tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-72355408034574794862024-03-14T03:49:54.610-07:00Make a Difference!Hello and a very warm welcome to my newly relaunched blog.
I'm Paul a 40 year old family man from the UK.
In this complex, information overload 21st century world, too often we lose sight of what's really important.
Here I want to celebrate life, share inspirational stories, throw the spotlight on charities and causes close to my heart.
Looking forward to sharing this journey with you all.magicdartshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11095926017533229807noreply@blogger.comBlogger56125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7235540803457479486.post-38814123164308366432011-12-12T10:05:00.000-08:002011-12-12T10:05:38.733-08:00A World wide swim to End Polio Now!<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhSbLSzwcNk38occKpGRSPq7xYH2fQbekDS-WsFBaOHtaZ7_0dXT0wPupda2yTsgv8eRoKFbPHmoyeXiobMoBtA7zN18ICLVegh2jsF67m1SVCoRYzRZp5xtNU0XjQlRtO3bnx5UV60zBk/s1600/RGS+picture.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="480px" oda="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhSbLSzwcNk38occKpGRSPq7xYH2fQbekDS-WsFBaOHtaZ7_0dXT0wPupda2yTsgv8eRoKFbPHmoyeXiobMoBtA7zN18ICLVegh2jsF67m1SVCoRYzRZp5xtNU0XjQlRtO3bnx5UV60zBk/s640/RGS+picture.jpg" width="640px" /></a></div><br />
Today I want to tell you all about an extraordinary new charity event on 25th February 2012 being organised by my Rotary Club. On one day around the world, many thousands of swimmers will swim at the exact same hour, to break a world record and to raise funds to eradicate Polio, You can find all the details at http://rotaryglobalswimarathon.org<br />
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Sorry I've been away so long, but it really seems a very appropriate time, today being 41st birthday to make a return to writing on this site and to share with you some very exciting news. <br />
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After 15 long but successful years in the IT industry, after much careful consideration I've decided to pursue a completely new career in the charity sector. As you may have seen from my previous articles I've been looking for ways that I could make a difference. Now I'm very certain I've found it! <br />
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Since January 2010, I've been a proud member of my local Rotary Club in Grantham, Lincolnshire, and this has truly opened my eyes to an incredible range of local and International Charity projects. Rotary International has an incredible 33,000 clubs and 1.2 million members worldwide, made up of professional and business people from all walks of life all dedicated to putting service to others above self. <br />
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One shining example of that is our club's annual Swimarathon event. Over 3 days, each February (thanks to support from local business sponsors) we manage to book up every lane of our local swimming pool. Teams of 6 swim for an hour and are sponsored, and all of the money raised goes directly to local charities. Last year alone we raised an amazing £46,000 and over the full 22 years the event has been run we have raised over £500,000. http://www.rotaryswimarathon.org<br />
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As 2012 is Olympic year, being hosted right here in the UK, we wanted to do something very special. So we came up with the Rotary Global Swimarathon. Basically, we've invited the whole world to join us on 25th February 2012 (closest Saturday to Rotary's 107th anniversary) to raise money for our global EndPolionow campaign http://www.rotary.org/endpolio . <br />
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Since 1985, where there were more than 350,000 cases of Polio recorded, Rotarians have worked tirelessly to raise many millions of dollars for and support immunization programs. Through these efforts, the number of cases of Polio has dropped to less than 2,000 and from 104 countries it now remains in just 4 countries - Pakistan, India, Afghanistan and Nigeria. We are 99% of the way there http://www.thisclose.net and have an unprecedented opportunity to make Polio only the second disease (after Smallpox) ever to be completely eradicated. <br />
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As the most IT literate member of the club, I've spent the last few months running a social media campaign on facebook http://www.facebook.com/rotaryglobalswimarathon and twitter http://www.twitter.com/rotaryglobeswim to get the event known across the world. Very proud to say the project has grown far beyond even our wildest initial dreams. We now have not one but two global event ambassadors. The incredible Penny Palfrey http://www.pennypalfreyproject.organ Australian Open Water Ultra Marathon Swimming world record holder, and UK Paralympic and World Champion Swimmer Fran Willamson http://www.fran-williamson.co.uk . <br />
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With just less than 3 months to go , we already have more than 30 clubs across all 6 continents of the world signed up to join us http://www.rotaryglobalswimarathon.organd are fully expecting the figure to rise to over 100 with more than 30 countries being represented. The amazing thing is that the world record requires every one to swim at 12:00 - 13:00pm G.M.T, which means that in New Zealand for example they are swimmming at 1am on 26th February, and in the East coast of the US there are open water swimmers taking part at 4 in the morning! We have schools, sports and swimming clubs , even triathletes lining up to join us, but the great thing is you only need to be able to swim 100 metres to be a world record breaker. <br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div>From starting out as a distant dream, by a small local Rotary club, we have managed to create an event that has captured the imagination of people all around the world, and we hope to make it a permanent fixture on the charity calendar. <br />
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Finally i'd just like to share with you a couple of videos all about the event. Remember you don't have to be a Rotarian to take part - we can help you with all the details. Come on in the water's lovely. <br />
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Penny Palfrey Australian event ambassador http://youtu.be/s387zfH2VIQ<br />
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Fran Williamson UK Event ambassador http://youtu.be/13Lm8sOAF4I<br />
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Swimarathon chair Roger Graves http://youtu.be/FQwNj76znQk<br />
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Goes without saying, all earnings from this article will go direct to Rotary International End Polio Now campaign. Thanks for reading!! <br />
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Read more: http://www.bukisa.com/articles/628272_a-world-wide-swim-to-end-polio-now-be-part-of-it#ixzz1gLRD5oVqmagicdartshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11095926017533229807noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7235540803457479486.post-30282060115563027932011-09-30T02:17:00.000-07:002011-09-30T02:22:46.633-07:00One Day. One Big Swim. One Goal - End Polio Now -25th February 2012<g_vml_:shape style="height: 1293px; left: 0px; position: absolute; top: 0px; width: 618px;"><g_vml_:fill></g_vml_:fill></g_vml_:shape><g_vml_:shape style="height: 1293px; left: 0px; position: absolute; top: 0px; width: 618px;"><g_vml_:stroke></g_vml_:stroke></g_vml_:shape><g_vml_:shape style="height: 1293px; left: 0px; position: absolute; top: 0px; width: 618px;"><g_vml_:stroke></g_vml_:stroke></g_vml_:shape><g_vml_:shape style="height: 1293px; left: 0px; position: absolute; top: 0px; width: 618px;"><g_vml_:stroke></g_vml_:stroke></g_vml_:shape><g_vml_:shape style="height: 1293px; left: 0px; position: absolute; top: 0px; width: 618px;"><g_vml_:stroke></g_vml_:stroke></g_vml_:shape>Hi Paul here, finally back in the land of blogging - have I got a great story to tell though!<br />
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As I posted last February, I've found a whole new and fantastic way to make a difference with Rotary International - an incredible network of 1.2 million members in over 200 countries doing service and charity projects in their communities locally and overseas. And as you'll see below - our Rotary Club have got a very special event.<br />
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Imagine swimmers in dozens of countries across all 6 continents of the world coming together on one day to swim and raise funds which will help us complete the mission to finally eradicate Polio from this earth<br />
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Come take a look!<br />
<h3 class="post-title entry-title"><a href="http://rotaryglobalswimarathon.blogspot.com/2011/09/welcome-to-official-rotary-global.html"><span style="color: #336699;">Welcome to the Official Rotary Global Swimarathon Blog!</span></a> </h3><div class="post-header"><div class="post-header-line-1"></div></div><div class="post-body entry-content" id="post-body-6335550283848333433"><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 10pt;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEixAYKEzGNyl0DGEs8_in1PpZ1m1q6jmGNvLpfU77f54VBS2kmtwCo3tYbUob6jD8qMJ6Y30Jmq_G2djqmOyTjHQq4t4SIO2GEyqlrTy2mwdg0MWaJUQdihycWxqLcoDGOj2pszCSbLHZ_j/s1600/global.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="200" kca="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEixAYKEzGNyl0DGEs8_in1PpZ1m1q6jmGNvLpfU77f54VBS2kmtwCo3tYbUob6jD8qMJ6Y30Jmq_G2djqmOyTjHQq4t4SIO2GEyqlrTy2mwdg0MWaJUQdihycWxqLcoDGOj2pszCSbLHZ_j/s400/global.png" width="400" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
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Since it's first running in 1989, its raised a remarkable £500,000 which goes towards the eradication of Polio worldwide as well as to support local and community charities. Last year alone the total amount raised was some £49,000 and its popularity has continued to grow. <br />
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So much so that for the year 2012, there are plans in place for a Global Swimarathon to take place on the Rotary International day of 25th February. At 12pm GMT, the plan is to get as many Rotary clubs as possible across the world to take part in a one hour swimarathon. The hope is to establish a new Guinness World Record for the most people swimming at the same time<br />
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More to follow on the Global Swimarathon, but for now please, please take a look at the swimarathon website to get an idea of what it's all about. And if anyone really wants to see me in my trunks, I'll be swimming in the Rotary team on Saturday evening. Even better if you would be so very kind enough to sponsor me!!<br />
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Here are the links - Thanks!!<br />
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<a href="http://www.justgiving.com/Charity/Donate.aspx?cid=185007">http://www.justgiving.com/Charity/Donate.aspx?cid=185007</a><br />
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<a href="http://rotaryswimarathon.org/">http://rotaryswimarathon.org/</a>magicdartshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11095926017533229807noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7235540803457479486.post-90545501048587410932011-01-21T08:22:00.000-08:002011-01-21T08:22:15.044-08:00Good to be back!Well it's certainly been a while since I've blogged!<br />
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Back out there in "the real world" over the last few months, I've been making some significant and positive changes to really improve my health and wellbeing. <br />
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It took another period of being stressed at work and seeing the blood pressure and weight creep up again to make me come to the realisation that I really had to do something about it.<br />
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So I've had some time out to revaluate my priorities, get myself mentally and physically back into shape. I've been fortunate enough to have spent a significant period of time working from home both before, during and after the christmas holidays which has really given me the chance to get things back into proper order.<br />
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Having got back into balance, I've been able to shed several pounds in weight, and really get all round fitness much better. In fact I've already learned so much I've decided to set up a separate blog to chart my progress and offer real-world proven advice at <a href="http://magicdarts-fitforlife.blogspot.com/">http://magicdarts-fitforlife.blogspot.com/</a> - no followers as yet so if you'd like to take a look I'd really appreciate it.<br />
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I've improved the way I go about tasks, both in my work life and personal life. Instead of always trying to do everything at once and flitting between jobs, I've got a much more methodical and less stressful approach worked out.<br />
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In the context of this blog and what I'm trying to do here, I came to the conclusion that in order to feel in myself that I'm really out there making a difference, it's time for me to find a way to volunteer my services to the local community. I'm very excited to say that I have found something very special that is going to become a lifetime commitment.<br />
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Hopefully some of you out there will be aware of Rotary International and the work they do. Essentially, it's a network of some 1.2 million business professionals in some 33,000 diferent clubs around the globe, volunteering their time to help out both locally and internationally. I'm very proud to announce that as of next Monday I will be inducted into my local club in Grantham. <br />
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So with all the fantastic ongoing projects they are involved in including a global eradicate polio campaign, there's going to be plenty for me to report on over the coming weeks and months. Also, hoping to link up with as many fellow rotarians as possible in the online community, and maybe convince one or two others to join up - believe me they are an amazing group of people!<br />
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Time for me to catch up with the blogging community again - catch up with you really soon!!magicdartshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11095926017533229807noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7235540803457479486.post-9870922345289371592010-10-13T13:04:00.000-07:002010-10-13T13:13:15.640-07:00Miles of smiles - an important appeal from the heart<div style="clear: left; cssfloat: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="Y2m" src="http://s0.causes.com/photos/eM/FU/IA/oH/hK/UW/Of/Y2M.jpg" /></div><br />
I know its been nearly 3 months since I've been blogging here, but there's time for updates in the future - right now I really need your help, to enable a very special little boy get the care he truly needs...<br />
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Back in June I wrote on here about little Miles Griffiths and highlighted the charity that providing support for him - this week I got news from his grandma of an extremely worrying development in his care.<br />
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Please, please read and show your support by signing the petition at the link below - thankyou so much<br />
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<a href="http://www.ipetitions.com/petition/keepmilesinfootprints/">http://www.ipetitions.com/petition/keepmilesinfootprints/</a><br />
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="border-collapse: separate; color: black; font: medium 'Times New Roman'; letter-spacing: normal; orphans: 2; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; webkit-border-horizontal-spacing: 0px; webkit-border-vertical-spacing: 0px; webkit-text-decorations-in-effect: none; webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; white-space: normal; widows: 2; word-spacing: 0px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: 12px; webkit-border-horizontal-spacing: 5px; webkit-border-vertical-spacing: 5px;"><a href="http://www.causes.com/causes/534650?m=4d513973">http://www.causes.com/causes/534650?m=4d513973</a></span></span><br />
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Hi Paul. I'm contacting you to ask if you would be kind enough to help my family again (!)......As you may recall I have an 8 year old grandson, Miles Griffiths. He currently lives in a childrens nursing home, Footprints, in Canterbury, Kent and has been supported by the wonderful Charity Kent Kids whom you highlighted on your blog. Social Services then stepped in to help financially.<br />
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In their infinite wisdom (for reasons of economy ) Social Services have now decided that Miles should be placed in foster care and have lined up totally unsuitable foster carers over-riding my daughter and her husband's wishes. Whilst these foster carers are very pleasant people, they have no experience of caring for a severely mentally and physically disabled child. Miles is recieving excellent care at Footprints, he is well, happy and settled. It is nothing short of cruel to disrupt him and he would simply not understand what was happening to him.<br />
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Miles cannot speak for himself so we are acting for him, he is not an unwanted child, he is much loved and cherished by his family.<br />
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We have launched a petition called Keep Miles At Footprints.<br />
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Please, please consider signing this petition and if you are a Facebook member, joining our cause.<br />
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Links below:-<br />
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<a href="http://www.ipetitions.com/petition/keepmilesinfootprints/">http://www.ipetitions.com/petition/keepmilesinfootprints/</a><br />
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No matter what kind of day I've had, there's one thing that's always guaranteed to bring on instant happiness. <br />
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Every time I see my little boy's face light up with wonder, beaming a huge smile back at me, suddenly all the troubles of the world just melt away. <br />
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1) Miles of smiles <a href="http://miles-of-smiles.org.uk/">miles-of-smiles.org.uk</a><br />
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You may well have seen the link on the right hand side of this blog as I first featured this charity a month or so ago after a fellow writer on dooyoo told me all about it as it provides much needed care for her grandson.<br />
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Kent Kids Miles of Smiles was founded in March 1993, with the sole aim of spreading some sunshine into the lives of sick and disabled children. It's a small regional British charity that has really struggled for funding during the recession, so I'm more than happy to give it any extra promotion that I can. <br />
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The lady in question kindly gave me her permission to publish an extract from the deeply moving message she wrote to me - I think you'll agree it's much more powerful and personal than anything I could write here myself<br />
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I just wanted to mention a charity very close to my heart, Kent Kids, Miles of Smiles. They are a Kent based children's charity, who have supported my young grandson, Miles Griffiths, for over 18 months. Miles was born with spastic quadriplegia, he is 8 this year but cannot sit, mobilise, speak or even swallow due to his condition. <br />
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He is fed via a jejunostomy tube into his bowel (as his stomach does not work) and his care needs are so great that my daughter was unable to continue caring for him at home. She has two other children and was becoming ill with the sheer hard work involved after 6 years care giving with little or no help. <br />
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We try to do our bit for the charity and support their fundraising ventures, but as you can imagine the current recession has hit the charity's donations very hard. If you would consider highlighting Kent Kids on your blog, I would be very gratefulmagicdartshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11095926017533229807noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7235540803457479486.post-24469946317278589502010-07-20T14:49:00.000-07:002010-07-20T15:00:19.808-07:00Click to Donate!Since my son was born a few years ago, I have been signed up to a good number of "cashback sites", which give you a share of the advertising revenue when you make purchases online through their links. In addition, on most of these sites there are a small number of daily cashback clicks, where you can earn a few pence, in some cases just by clicking on the links. <br />
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As per the ongoing theme of this blog, since March of this year, I've decided to donate all of those earnings to charity. Following a bit of research, I've discovered that there are a number of legimate charity websites out there offering "click-to-donate" links where users can click a button (generally only once per day) to generate a donation for a charity or cause. <br />
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The two that I'm going to highlight here today are the most well established, so please be assured that these are genuine links.<br />
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1) the hungersite <a href="http://www.hungersite.com/">http://www.hungersite.com/</a> <br />
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<div style="float: left; margin: 5px;"><a href="http://www.thehungersite.com/clickToGive/home.faces?siteId=1&origin=THS_linktous_120"><img alt="The Hunger Site" border="0" src="http://ctg.greatergood.net/clickToGive/images/content/120_button_ths_FreeFood.jpg" /></a></div><br />
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From the website:<br />
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"The Hunger Site was founded to focus the power of the Internet on a specific humanitarian need; the eradication of world hunger. Since its launch in June 1999, the site has established itself as a leader in online activism, helping to feed the world's hungry and food insecure. On average, over 220,000 individuals from around the world visit the site each day to click the yellow "Click Here to Give - it's FREE" button.....Since its inception, visitors at The Hunger Site and shoppers at The Hunger Site store have given more than 671 million cups of food."<br />
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Martin Lewis at <a href="http://www.moneysavingexpert.com/">http://www.moneysavingexpert.com/</a> writes<br />
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"3.6 - just a number? You may suspect an interest rate or price, yet it's much more important than that. Every three point six seconds someone in the world dies of hunger, and three quarters of the 24,000 daily deaths are children under five years old. Yet there's a way to feed them which won't cost you a penny; it's called The Hunger Site."<br />
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The site has set up a number of sister sites to help support breast cancer treatment, child health, literacy, the rainforests and animal rescue. All of these sites can be accessed by selecting the individual coloured tabs.<br />
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2) Freerice <a href="http://www.freerice.com/">http://www.freerice.com/</a><br />
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This is another amazing web site. This time it's not just a simple click through - this is a very clever website that seeks to pass on a little knowledge, as each visitor answers some straight-forward multi-choice questions in order to earn grains of rice. <br />
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According to wikipedia " As of May 2009, FreeRice has donated more than 60 billion grains of rice (roughly 1,700 metric tons or 3.75 million pounds". <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/FreeRice">http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/FreeRice</a><br />
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And last but by no means least I want to share with you a truly remarkable campaign which you can become a part of , right here and now. <br />
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Whilst on our recent cruise holiday, on a day trip in Rome, having been lucky enough to have just enjoyed one of the most memorable meals I've ever had, sampling the very finest of Italian pizza , pasta and ice-cream, we were on our coach heading back to the ship. I happened to see a poster which really made me stop and think. <br />
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It was for this campaign <a href="http://www.1billionhungry.org/magicdarts/">http://www.1billionhungry.org/magicdarts/</a> Please, please take a look and if you use my link with the magicdarts on the end I get to be able to track anyone who signs up as a result of this.<br />
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The words speak for themselves - 1 billion people hungry - I'm mad as hell - Watch the video clip by renowned British Actor Jeremy Irons. <br />
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Its a global petition that will be presented to the United Nations in October 2010. As of tonight there are already 199,237 signed up from across the globe - please be the next one. <br />
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><strong>You really can make a difference. </strong></span>magicdartshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11095926017533229807noreply@blogger.com6tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7235540803457479486.post-54973313512492588082010-06-30T12:13:00.000-07:002010-06-30T12:13:47.446-07:00June's donationsOnce again apologies for the less frequent blogs these days -it's a tough balancing act at the moment with family and work commitments but I'm certainly not about to start walking away from what I've set out to do.<br />
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This is always my favourite part of the month where I get to share the details on my latest round of donations of my on-line earnings. This month, I've managed to collect in another £30 via payouts from surveys and quidco cashback, and I'm very close to reaching a couple of other thresholds.<br />
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I've decided to split the donations 2 ways between these 2 extremely good causes<br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj8oOotNd8EKz9tGr29JJmdjGQXIrYTZoqD0MSpjpv1D4e9XDmQ1Wph5LOqe9W8vJfU3y5Nllv0Chc4_wEOHViz_pj37p2no4SFUFTVU3sLMIvhduTID42E9QthhGfHrWTREp1Y7vDGd7A/s1600/bike+ride.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="290" ru="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj8oOotNd8EKz9tGr29JJmdjGQXIrYTZoqD0MSpjpv1D4e9XDmQ1Wph5LOqe9W8vJfU3y5Nllv0Chc4_wEOHViz_pj37p2no4SFUFTVU3sLMIvhduTID42E9QthhGfHrWTREp1Y7vDGd7A/s320/bike+ride.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>1) British Heart Foundation<br />
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Another good friend from the dooyoo review sites Tim Webb has just followed in the footsteps of Ivor's epic journey from London to Brighton, this time using pedal power. 55 miles cycling in a single day is some going though ( I did a 40 mile ride for BHF a few years ago and even though the finish line was less than half a mile from my house I had to be taken home in a car!) so congratulations to all involved in the Stamford Lions group and I hope they can achieve the target of £5000<br />
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Please take a look at<br />
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<a href="http://original.justgiving.com/thestamfordlions">http://original.justgiving.com/thestamfordlions</a><br />
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About the charity: <br />
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The British Heart Foundation is the nation's heart charity. <br />
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Every day they save lives, through pioneering research, providing vital information to help people reduce their own heart health risks, campaigning for change and supporting and caring for heart patients. <br />
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Charity Registration No 225971<br />
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2) Soccer Aid<br />
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Well since I wrote my last blog world cup fever is truly upon us now, (well maybe not for the woeful England team!)<br />
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With that in mind, my second donation of £15 is to Soccer Aid, raising much needed funds to provide basic human needs on behalf of UNICEF. <br />
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<a href="http://www.unicef.org.uk/socceraid2010/donate.asp">http://www.unicef.org.uk/socceraid2010/donate.asp</a><br />
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From the website <br />
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"Soccer Aid raises money for UNICEF to help children around the world. Previous events have already helped to improve the lives of more than one million children, and we hope that through Soccer Aid 2010 we can help many, many more children!<br />
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Every minute of every day, children die from common diseases like measles, diarrhoea and malaria. Millions of children don’t go to school, or have food, shelter or clean water. Children all over the world suffer from violence, abuse and discrimination, are forced to work in dangerous conditions and denied the chance to play. This is wrong. We need your help to put it right.<br />
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By making a donation you can help UNICEF to transform children’s lives by ensuring that their rights to things like education, health care and protection are met.<br />
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Please take a look at the website at <br />
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<a href="https://socceraid.unicef.org.uk/">https://socceraid.unicef.org.uk/</a> and make a donation if you can.<br />
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Hope to be able to catch up with more of you next month!magicdartshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11095926017533229807noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7235540803457479486.post-71706415415879476782010-06-07T07:24:00.000-07:002010-06-07T07:50:37.807-07:00The Football World cup - making the most of a truly global gathering<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh2U2CCa-VKXYOJzvaET4OmAivYhCKnBx4i-5tbs0gWmqnZYrXFkfE_sSYo6rAAsVWUHyXwUa9d0zGQEpYZKBCX9KC5_EsEwWK4_3Hx-JrZTx_3bW3Zl4Zg5fSFcVX2rnxffUBP3WZP6qA/s1600/world+cup.bmp" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="250" qu="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh2U2CCa-VKXYOJzvaET4OmAivYhCKnBx4i-5tbs0gWmqnZYrXFkfE_sSYo6rAAsVWUHyXwUa9d0zGQEpYZKBCX9KC5_EsEwWK4_3Hx-JrZTx_3bW3Zl4Zg5fSFcVX2rnxffUBP3WZP6qA/s400/world+cup.bmp" width="400" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;">As I'm sure many of you are well aware, the 2010 Football world cup starts this Friday in South Africa.</div><div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;"><br />
</div>In these often troubled modern times, as all of our daily lives are in some way affected by the global economic turmoil, climate uncertainty and ongoing conflicts, for me the chance that only presents itself every 4 years to unite with football and sporting fans from across the planet is not to be missed. <br />
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Whatever your interest in the sport, so many people from totally different cultures and countries sharing a common interest - that is always special<br />
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Since as long as I can remember, it's been a part of my upbringing - from Argentina 1978 every 4 years to the present day, its provided some of the most memorable sporting moments I've witnessed. Each country has their own unique story to tell, and for England ever since that one iconic triumph at Wembley back in 1966, its largely been a tale of promise and hope along with plenty of heartbreak.<br />
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In line with the continuing theme of this blog, this year I want to look outside the pure sporting drama that will unfold and take a look ways in which we can make the most of this global coming together, and harness the true spirit of humanity and community at it's very best<br />
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Last night, I was priviledged to watch "Soccer Aid" <br />
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The brain child of UK pop superstar Robbie Williams, it features a charity match on behalf of UNICEF staged between England and the Rest of the World, with each team comprising of a number of celebrities, presenters, actors as well as a sprinkling of true footballing legends. <br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhl_a2Bvn81dtSuCq0uE5lEQShpvlOq6B8q7iMuJplFI5byj-EZIxWo6oApBRPg80cPo0CodDZuDhdWfKUiWZZMtVBAHri5Mz-kcaAj5QxeS0C7rKPVLqUubfF0oKh_F4y8FwdJzW6Quak/s1600/robbie.bmp" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="280" qu="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhl_a2Bvn81dtSuCq0uE5lEQShpvlOq6B8q7iMuJplFI5byj-EZIxWo6oApBRPg80cPo0CodDZuDhdWfKUiWZZMtVBAHri5Mz-kcaAj5QxeS0C7rKPVLqUubfF0oKh_F4y8FwdJzW6Quak/s320/robbie.bmp" width="320" /></a></div><br />
This year's match marked the 3rd running of the event, (previous versions in 2006 and 2008) and featured international greats like Zinedine Zidane, Luis Figo and Ryan Giggs as well as homegrown English legends such as Shearer, Sheringham and David Seaman.<br />
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The oh so predictable eventual result that England lost on penalties was let's face it utterly irrelevant - the value of the funds raised, to buy the likes of simple Malaria Nets - it's simply priceless<br />
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Please take a look at the website at <br />
<a href="https://socceraid.unicef.org.uk/">https://socceraid.unicef.org.uk/</a> and make a donation if you can.<br />
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No doubt during the tournament the British tabloid press in particular will be looking to ride the wave of popular support and then find any angle they can to rip into the England team the moment things start to go wrong. Over paid and priviledged players that underperform - it's a very easy line of attack.<br />
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I wonder how many people out there are aware of the <a href="http://www.teamenglandfootballerscharity.com/">http://www.teamenglandfootballerscharity.com/</a> - I strongly suggest you take a look. <br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div>Bobby Moore the captain of that victorious 1966 team embodies the very essence of bravery and skill, and having tragically lost his life to cancer, it's truly inspiring to read about the foundation that lives on in his memory.<br />
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One final site I'd encourage you to take a look at is <a href="http://www.homelessworldcup.org/">http://www.homelessworldcup.org/</a>. This extraordinary annual gathering has been running since 2003, and the next one will be in Rio De Janeiro in September 2010 where 64 nations will be taking part.<br />
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As described on the website it "is an annual, international football tournament, uniting teams of people who are homeless and excluded to take a once in a lifetime opportunity to represent their country and change their lives forever. It has triggered and supports grass roots football projects in over 70 nations working with over 30,000 homeless and excluded people throughout the year. <br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjMCbLTymBk0taWDwSF_AUYcFztwq9wPPi737MrfrunvVlGGC9yaj7Y201kMNHksD1aOOdGMiQpEO1hC4OpirZJ7KuD36wiQglbcMk12BIyIy-5LwqwJr_IyfzW85AmqhGNRi4DYLpVfQc/s1600/homeless+world+cup.bmp" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; cssfloat: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="400" qu="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjMCbLTymBk0taWDwSF_AUYcFztwq9wPPi737MrfrunvVlGGC9yaj7Y201kMNHksD1aOOdGMiQpEO1hC4OpirZJ7KuD36wiQglbcMk12BIyIy-5LwqwJr_IyfzW85AmqhGNRi4DYLpVfQc/s400/homeless+world+cup.bmp" width="220" /></a></div><br />
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The impact is consistently significant year on year with 73% of players changing their lives for the better by coming off drugs and alcohol, moving into jobs, education, homes, training, reuniting with families and even going on to become players and coaches for pro or semi-pro football teams.<br />
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You can also link up with the Homeless World Cup with social networking sites on Facebook, Myspace, Bebo, and Youtube, so please take a look and show your support.<br />
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Whichever nation finally gets to lift that golden globe on July 11th, we can all be winners if we get involved and give what we can. <br />
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Thanks for reading!<br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgIoOoY3N1CV8qONC636VkkyLJiwjw12dALdu3paxcrcwk4clP_LFN1i7L28c60xx7_Tfu2awDPvx_wVrxwmXu4sNHgu6fwjQBTrOtyP_9cWLV0fSFTDxmjJVK_pdHKDmug36EXBr0WWM0/s1600/trophy.bmp" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" qu="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgIoOoY3N1CV8qONC636VkkyLJiwjw12dALdu3paxcrcwk4clP_LFN1i7L28c60xx7_Tfu2awDPvx_wVrxwmXu4sNHgu6fwjQBTrOtyP_9cWLV0fSFTDxmjJVK_pdHKDmug36EXBr0WWM0/s320/trophy.bmp" /></a></div>magicdartshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11095926017533229807noreply@blogger.com11tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7235540803457479486.post-19823488081620812322010-06-04T06:21:00.000-07:002010-06-04T06:54:09.077-07:00Making the most of your precious spare time -National Volunteers week!First of all, it's great to be back and posting.<br />
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</div><div>Apologies for what's become a fairly lengthy absence, but I was fortunate enough to spend the last 2 weeks in May on our family holiday on a Cruise trip around the Mediterranean - plenty of great experiences to share on that, and this week has been about catching up with my work commitments.</div><div><br />
</div><div>Heartened to see that my blog has continued to receive comments and even some new followers in my absence , that alone is more than enough motivation to keep me going.</div><div><br />
</div><div>One of the things that really struck me during the cruise trip and that made it so special , was that with a very limited TV service and so much to do on board and visiting the destinations, the holiday really seemed to last a long time. </div><div><br />
</div><div>Made me re-evaluate how much time I still waste on a nightly basis flicking through the TV channels and all the popular culture dross that fills the air time, and how with 2 weeks completely away from all of that I don't seem to have missed anything.</div><div><br />
</div><div>With my full time work commitments, and my determination to continue to build on this blog, clearly something has to give, and as a British Kids TV show "Why don't you?" used to delight in telling us it really is time to "Turn off the television set and go out and do something less boring instead!!" </div><div><br />
</div><div>Inspired by fellow bloggers and commenters here, 've been trying to find a way to fit in some volunteering time and over the last hour or two I've had a look through my company's website. </div><div><br />
</div><div>As luck would have it, here in the UK it just happens to be National Volunteer week <a href="http://www.volunteersweek.org.uk/About+the+Week">http://www.volunteersweek.org.uk/About+the+Week</a> running between the 1st and 7th of June so for those of you in the UK I would encourage you to take a look</div><div><br />
</div><div>Another great discovery for me is that my company is partnered with the Princes Trust. For those of you unfamiliar with the charity, set up by Prince Charles here in the UK, it does some fantastic work particularly around supporting young people from across the social spectrum in community work and business opportunities. Back in 1994, as a graduate struggling to find work, I took part in a 12 week volunteers programme that had a massive impact on my life in so many ways. I promise I will write up the full story here soon </div><div><br />
</div><div>In the meantime , I've signed up via the following link <a href="http://www.princes-trust.org.uk/beexceptional"> www.princes-trust.org.uk/beexceptional</a> in the first instance as a workshop facilitator, and according to the website, it's just a case of finding out when there is an opportunity to help in my regional area and going from there.</div><div><br />
</div><div>So hopefully rather than just talking about my past volunteering experiences with the Trust, I can add to them here very soon. </div><div><br />
</div><div>One of the most memorable and inspiring aspects of the Princes Trust programme for me was the week I spent working as a volunteer at the skylarks holiday centre, which provided holiday facilities and activities for disabled guests and restbite for their carers<a href="http://www.vitalise.org.uk/getdoc/8f264128-ba58-4685-b14c-2bb5c73faba3/Skylarks-Nottingham.aspx">http://www.vitalise.org.uk/getdoc/8f264128-ba58-4685-b14c-</a></div><div><a href="http://www.vitalise.org.uk/getdoc/8f264128-ba58-4685-b14c-2bb5c73faba3/Skylarks-Nottingham.aspx">2bb5c73faba3/Skylarks-Nottingham.aspx</a></div><div><br />
I would strongly encourage anyone who can spare a week or so of their time to get in touch and get involved - it means such a lot to the carers and guests, and the benefits you get in terms of perspective and appreciation of life are immeasurable.</div><div><br />
</div><div>One of the most memorable and inspiring parts of our cruise which was with Royal Carribean's largest European ship the Independence of the Seas, was the fact that all of its facilities and activities had been built with accessibility in mind. </div><div><br />
</div><div>It was fantastic to see such a large number of disabled guests on board using a variety of wheel chair and motability support systems able to enjoy their holiday time to the full. </div><div><br />
</div><div>So I'm back, I'm refreshed and ready to go - please keep your ideas and suggestions coming in!!</div><div><br />
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</div>magicdartshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11095926017533229807noreply@blogger.com11tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7235540803457479486.post-80548846486867473742010-05-13T09:25:00.000-07:002010-05-13T09:34:55.480-07:00Smiles that can change our world!<div class="separator" style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; clear: both; text-align: center;"></div>No matter what kind of day I've had, there's one thing that's always guaranteed to bring on instant happiness. <br />
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Every time I see my little boy's face light up with wonder, beaming a huge smile back at me, suddenly all the troubles of the world just melt away. <br />
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So continuing on that theme here's three very special charities which I would like to bring to your attention<br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgWXw_MZdP4O0QH35xpgjwnjQnSG5hf3rutn-Oh-o9Uzp-vrdViB6SgZubL4pDynOsBXPcje4uw9BHTHmhG5f_WEQDIIm0T4lHmD8vajHW9TtVWoIRYpRtixbSlOnrtC7HC3n0uTNtdb3s/s1600/miles+of+smiles+pic.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; cssfloat: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgWXw_MZdP4O0QH35xpgjwnjQnSG5hf3rutn-Oh-o9Uzp-vrdViB6SgZubL4pDynOsBXPcje4uw9BHTHmhG5f_WEQDIIm0T4lHmD8vajHW9TtVWoIRYpRtixbSlOnrtC7HC3n0uTNtdb3s/s200/miles+of+smiles+pic.jpg" width="183" wt="true" /></a></div>1) Miles of smiles <a href="http://miles-of-smiles.org.uk/">http://miles-of-smiles.org.uk/</a><br />
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You may well have seen the link on the right hand side of this blog as I first featured this charity a month or so ago after a fellow writer on dooyoo told me all about it as it provides much needed care for her grandson.<br />
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Kent Kids Miles of Smiles was founded in March 1993, with the sole aim of spreading some sunshine into the lives of sick and disabled children. It's a small regional British charity that has really struggled for funding during the recession, so I'm more than happy to give it any extra promotion that I can. <br />
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The lady in question kindly gave me her permission to publish an extract from the deeply moving message she wrote to me - I think you'll agree it's much more powerful and personal than anything I could write here myself<br />
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"I just wanted to mention a charity very close to my heart, Kent Kids, Miles of Smiles. They are a Kent based children's charity, who have supported my young grandson, Miles Griffiths, for over 18 months. Miles was born with spastic quadriplegia, he is 8 this year but cannot sit, mobilise, speak or even swallow due to his condition. <br />
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He is fed via a jejunostomy tube into his bowel (as his stomach does not work) and his care needs are so great that my daughter was unable to continue caring for him at home. She has two other children and was becoming ill with the sheer hard work involved after 6 years care giving with little or no help. <br />
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We try to do our bit for the charity and support their fundraising ventures, but as you can imagine the current recession has hit the charity's donations very hard. If you would consider highlighting Kent Kids on your blog, I would be very grateful."<br />
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2) A smile for a child<br />
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<a href="http://www.asmileforachild.org/index.html">http://www.asmileforachild.org/index.html</a><br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEil3dZH4Poz22eP2urCn_ezYTiEsdw9TYRrnfQyPfUhtYiQN2oHeb5XLm3_JHTO-69NuPQqaod6AWLFGZ8g6gI_YZLUGVs06FVHokj3afFa37AVQ0OJmjtQVXHQ840Eg9A4vGU5IIjJ3jw/s1600/smiles+of+a+child.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEil3dZH4Poz22eP2urCn_ezYTiEsdw9TYRrnfQyPfUhtYiQN2oHeb5XLm3_JHTO-69NuPQqaod6AWLFGZ8g6gI_YZLUGVs06FVHokj3afFa37AVQ0OJmjtQVXHQ840Eg9A4vGU5IIjJ3jw/s320/smiles+of+a+child.jpg" wt="true" /></a></div><div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;">The second charity I want to highlight today is another very small UK charity which supports disabled and disadvantaged children to get into sporting activities in their communities. I'm a great believer in the benefits of sport and making all sports universally accessible, so although I've only just found out about them it really is a cause close to my heart and I'll certainly be looking to get actively involved with them in the coming weeks, months and years.</div><div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;"><a name='more'></a><br />
</div><div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;">Charity Information </div><div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;"></div><br />
The Aims of the charity are to provide grants for disabled and disadvantaged children, to allow them to participate and progress in sport, this can be to a Club, an Organisation or to an individual child.<br />
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This could be funds for a sports wheelchair for a disabled child, to sports equipment for a club or organisation.<br />
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<a href="http://www.justgiving.com/asmileforachild/donate">http://www.justgiving.com/asmileforachild/donate</a><br />
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3) The Smile Train - changing the world one smile at a time<br />
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And finally, a way that you can literally help put a smile back on a child's face with a global charity appeal on behalf of the world's leading Cleft Lip and Cleft Palate charity<br />
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<a href="http://www.smiletrain.org/">http://www.smiletrain.org/</a><br />
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From the site <br />
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"Unlike many charities that do many different things, The Smile Train mission is focused on solving a single problem: cleft lip and palate.<br />
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Clefts are a major problem in developing countries where there are millions of children who are suffering with unrepaired clefts. Most cannot eat or speak properly. Aren’t allowed to attend school or hold a job. And face very difficult lives filled with shame and isolation, pain and heartache.<br />
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The good news is every single child with a cleft can be helped with surgery that costs as little as $250 and takes as little as 45 minutes."<br />
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One of the featured stories: <br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgiteY7kShlqvWU-xPA3-xCEw494XTxK7XZ-U2TD3FMUOGqfRnfIs64sxcfBLgSYMX205tW7RLUbKprdietE6SFR0aM26QRqy8jj80cdrsh2TKdK4XQnwvg8hTNma8UaESGY1puh137Blc/s1600/nicholas-before.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgiteY7kShlqvWU-xPA3-xCEw494XTxK7XZ-U2TD3FMUOGqfRnfIs64sxcfBLgSYMX205tW7RLUbKprdietE6SFR0aM26QRqy8jj80cdrsh2TKdK4XQnwvg8hTNma8UaESGY1puh137Blc/s200/nicholas-before.jpg" width="161" wt="true" /></a></div>"Nicholas’ parents were distraught when they saw their son’s cleft deformity and were too embarrassed to bring him out in public. They hid Nicholas from friends and family, caring for him in seclusion in their tiny home, in a poor, slum area of Venezuela. His parents were overcome with guilt for having to hide Nicholas, knowing that they could never afford to pay for surgery.<br />
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One day, they heard a radio announcement that Hospital de Especialidades Pediatricas was performing surgeries for children born with cleft deformities and that the cost of the surgeries was being covered by The Smile Train.<br />
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It took them an entire day by bus to get to the hospital, but their trip was well worth it. Soon after they arrived, they received the wonderful news that Nicholas would receive free surgery. The surgery was a success and now the whole family is overcome with happiness and smiles!"<br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEge7g2KfwM7q3q27ZiT0cQqErJp7UrMk8wcLUjEGI76ozxr3zAokCnBL78gPfSXOGxlh4DSi77XabsQOrjGXZlyUxGrfejcb4u0be6kozHbAphvOFm00496PSdl0J8O76z-p49ZhbXlODk/s1600/nicholas-after.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="261" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEge7g2KfwM7q3q27ZiT0cQqErJp7UrMk8wcLUjEGI76ozxr3zAokCnBL78gPfSXOGxlh4DSi77XabsQOrjGXZlyUxGrfejcb4u0be6kozHbAphvOFm00496PSdl0J8O76z-p49ZhbXlODk/s320/nicholas-after.jpg" width="320" wt="true" /></a></div> After surgery!<br />
<br />
If you would like to make a donation, remember $250 pays for surgery for one child but any amount would be gratefully received <br />
<br />
<a href="https://secure2.convio.net/st/site/Donation2?idb=0&df_id=1020&1020.donation=form1&s_src=generaldonation&JServSessionIdr004=ri8bjemls1.app207b">https://secure2.convio.net/st/site/Donation2?idb=0&df_id=1020&1020.donation=form1&s_src=generaldonation&JServSessionIdr004=ri8bjemls1.app207b</a><br />
<br />
It's a longer term target, but for my own part , I'm aiming to put aside up to £50 a month of future online earnings for the charity, so that hopefully I can reach the target within a few months.<br />
To have the chance to literally change a child's life for a couple of hundred dollars is quite something I'm sure you'll agree - thanks to the work of charities like these, so many more parents will get to experience the indescribable joy of seeing their little ones smile. <br />
<br />
Thank you as ever for reading, and please stay in touch!<br />
<br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEia-h4Iu0LmZNZtCDLCVraGfqYAHFEhzfC1EpOwAEodedyX1HlIrydQ__Gl5GVjJUgORWFwX17d1phT-bWNzUnrioraNDPhPNREVNr153k9rtgKtdBrDXbN0YelFTWYGwP_oP3juVeKJrk/s1600/pw.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEia-h4Iu0LmZNZtCDLCVraGfqYAHFEhzfC1EpOwAEodedyX1HlIrydQ__Gl5GVjJUgORWFwX17d1phT-bWNzUnrioraNDPhPNREVNr153k9rtgKtdBrDXbN0YelFTWYGwP_oP3juVeKJrk/s640/pw.jpg" width="486" wt="true" /></a></div>magicdartshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11095926017533229807noreply@blogger.com16tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7235540803457479486.post-48033979746717121522010-05-11T05:45:00.000-07:002010-05-11T05:59:40.262-07:00Proudly announcing this months donations!As I mentioned a couple of days back, I've tallied up the online earnings now ready for cash out this month and am very pleased to announce the latest donations I've been able to make, along with some details about the charities. <br />
<br />
A total of £75 collected this month added to the previous £81.40 brings the grand total for the year to date <br />
<br />
<span style="font-size: large;"><strong>****£156.40!*****</strong></span><br />
<br />
So still well on track to the £1000 target , especially as I'm close to pay out for a number of £30-50 thresholds so hopefully plenty more to come in the next few months.<br />
<br />
Also, really chuffed to now have 66 followers signed up already, and thanks again to all of you out there for all the amazing, positive comments I've received so far - it really does spur me on, and as a result of the community spirit I've got to know about some incredible causes that you support out there. <br />
<br />
If anyone out there is thinking of trying this for themselves and donating on line earnings, please look out for my up coming blog entry where I'll highlight some of my own favourite and reliable "top earner" cashback, survey and review sites. Also, once again can I appeal to you all to get in touch about your special charities and I will do my utmost to highlight them here.<br />
<br />
And so to the most important bit, the charities.<br />
<br />
<br />
1) Makomborero Zimbabwe - £25<br />
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<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiJ3xJWCrO6GmrHdYlWARMqp1zuSFxA7563FE5XqvoW7QLOgm1Znf6QJ-wC1QjIv69-xn44D4-GQ3BgwSfw-QtQcFUXYwueWdBGYKgGtOZGjX5v41msmrvN-APgDqZqmYJBkNqQQ1kqvoU/s1600/future+6th+formers.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiJ3xJWCrO6GmrHdYlWARMqp1zuSFxA7563FE5XqvoW7QLOgm1Znf6QJ-wC1QjIv69-xn44D4-GQ3BgwSfw-QtQcFUXYwueWdBGYKgGtOZGjX5v41msmrvN-APgDqZqmYJBkNqQQ1kqvoU/s320/future+6th+formers.jpg" tt="true" /></a></div><br />
Back in April, one of my old University friends had got in touch to tell me about the bold and visionary project called Makombero (meaning blessings) that is now finally getting close to becoming a reality for Mark and Laura Albertyn. <br />
<br />
They are native Zimbabweans, who have spent the last few years working in the UK, but have always with the dream to set up an A-level school back in Zimbabwe. It has taken some time to get the funds together but now finally they are heading back to Zimbabwe in a month or so's time.<br />
<br />
Please, please, please take a look at the charity's website at and also their blog at <a href="http://makomborero.info/">http://makomborero.info/</a> it tells the story much better than I ever could. There you will find details of how you can get involved, support, volunteer, donate and become a part of this community adventure.<br />
<a name='more'></a><br />
2) Epilepsy Research - £20<br />
<ol><li><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgIy7rGPeV448ERrvsWE8rO8GUY7DXVeKZamhZ0hb565oYt-GElnG8Qz2zlHjMkK-KMImCiAptPLNUE908CPSktK-CsZAxGGpwJthe3QOXWSayIjSLfKJk0qnkMQV1YzjM_louv-VCInEU/s1600/serenes+blog.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; cssfloat: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="150" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgIy7rGPeV448ERrvsWE8rO8GUY7DXVeKZamhZ0hb565oYt-GElnG8Qz2zlHjMkK-KMImCiAptPLNUE908CPSktK-CsZAxGGpwJthe3QOXWSayIjSLfKJk0qnkMQV1YzjM_louv-VCInEU/s200/serenes+blog.jpg" tt="true" width="200" /></a></div></li>
</ol><br />
<br />
In my recent posts, I've written about the London Marathon, written about Serene Low's epilepsy awareness blog <a href="http://epilepsylegacy.blogspot.com/">http://epilepsylegacy.blogspot.com/</a><br />
and on comedian Russell Howard running for the National Society for Epilepsy charity<br />
<br />
Then I discovered a couple of weeks back that one of my UK based work colleagues Mark Pickard and his wife Fiona had just completed the London Marathon on behalf of Epilepsy Research UK. <br />
<br />
<br />
<a href="http://uk.virginmoneygiving.com/Pickard">uk.virginmoneygiving.com/Pickard</a><br />
<br />
<br />
Here in their own words are their reasons for taking part on behalf their son Harry.<br />
<br />
"We have decided to run the London marathon this year TOGETHER! and we are running for the charity Epilepsy Research UK, for a cause that mean a lot to us.<br />
<br />
Harry is a very happy and healthy 9 year old, but in 2005 he started to collapse for no apparent reason, at first it was thought he was having "normal" childhood feberal convulsions, however as the frequency and severity of these collapses increased further tests diagnosed Epilepsy. Our worst fears were realised as Fiona has had live through her father having Epilepsy for over 30 years. However Harry's type of Epilepsy has now been diagnosed (Atonic) and he has been treated successfully for over 4 now and we have had only a few recurrences. Hopefully he will grow out of his Epilepsy, but he may well have to be on medication for some time maybe indefinitely. However both Harry and his Grandfather are very well, and we have no reason to think that Epilepsy will adversely effect their lives.<br />
<br />
However the experience has motivated us to try and repay in some way the support we have had in diagnosing Harry's Epilepsy, and we have decided to try and lug our bodies around the streets of London on the 25th of April."<br />
<br />
About the charity:<br />
<br />
<a href="http://www.epilepsyresearch.org.uk/">http://www.epilepsyresearch.org.uk/</a> <br />
<br />
Epilepsy Research UK was formed following the merger of the Epilepsy Research Foundation and the Fund for Epilepsy, in April 2007. It supports and promotes basic and clinical scientific research into the causes, treatments and prevention of epilepsy; and is the only national charity in the UK that funds independent research exclusively into this condition. <br />
<br />
Epilepsy Research UK supports the work of scientists and clinicians throughout the UK, who are investigating all aspects of epilepsy in both adults and children. They are especially looking at what causes epilepsy, who gets it, what goes on in the brain during a seizure, and safer drugs and better surgical techniques to treat it. <br />
<br />
Our annual research spending is about £800,000 - raised almost wholly through donations from the public - and we fund 4-9 new research projects each year.<br />
<br />
3) Children on the Autistic Spectrum Parents Association CASPA - £20<br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEguJEMHhh7ELu7TzeaB4OrJE_0jgANvjRcXoe20HbGbcbD7mIvUA0ep48fKQGXkcTnLbhYOLiQb_ionnqP9PvCE8pOi5zH14JHcfb6ksRGqDrgUwSYrSvWVNe2PPAA48oyakVLO7c7L2gQ/s1600/Ivor.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEguJEMHhh7ELu7TzeaB4OrJE_0jgANvjRcXoe20HbGbcbD7mIvUA0ep48fKQGXkcTnLbhYOLiQb_ionnqP9PvCE8pOi5zH14JHcfb6ksRGqDrgUwSYrSvWVNe2PPAA48oyakVLO7c7L2gQ/s400/Ivor.jpg" tt="true" width="372" /></a></div><br />
Continuing on the running theme, one of my fellow online writers, Mr Ivor Reveley, recently completed a very special running challenge of his own, pounding the streets for 4 days solid, to complete the 90 Kilometres from London to Brighton over the May Bank Holiday weekend on behalf of CASPA <br />
<br />
Ivor's 16 year old son Matthew has Autism with complex additional needs. <br />
<br />
Ivor not only helped found the charity which started out as a small parental support group but is fully committed as the chair and trustee of the charity, organising special events and workshops for young people with autism.<br />
<br />
You can read much more about how you can support their efforts at Ivor's blog <a href="http://fourdaysrunning.blogspot.com/">http://fourdaysrunning.blogspot.com/</a> or make a donation at <a href="http://www.justgiving.com/fourdaysrunning">http://www.justgiving.com/fourdaysrunning</a><br />
<br />
4) Habitat for Humanity - £10<br />
<br />
<a href="http://www.habitat.org/eca/">http://www.habitat.org/eca/</a><br />
<br />
In 1976 Habitat for Humanity was founded with the sole aim of tackling poverty housing on a global scale. More than thirty years later we are working in 90 countries around the world and have built 300,000 homes in partnership with people in need of safe, decent housing.<br />
<br />
This year, over one and a half million people around the world will wake up every morning and remember the appalling conditions they endured before building with Habitat for Humanity. Thankfully, for those people, squalid living conditions are now just a bad memory.<br />
<br />
Volunteers and homeowners work side by sideHabitat for Humanity is now building at such a rate that we serve a low-income family somewhere around the world every 10 minutes through new house construction, major house rehabilitation projects and with house repairs. In 2007, Habitat served a record 49,000 families in need<br />
<br />
AND FINALLY....<br />
<br />
Just wanted to repeat this message I posted on my previous earnings update.<br />
<br />
<strong>I WANT TO HEAR FROM YOU!</strong> <br />
<br />
<br />
The last thing I want is for anyone to think that this blog is some kind of "hey look at me - aren't I incredibly worthy" exercise. <br />
<br />
I'm sharing with you what I'm donating, because I think it is vitally important that rather than just highlight and talk about these causes , I put on record my own personal commitment along the way. In addition to the purely monetary donations, I'm going to look at any ways I can directly get involved in some of these causes, whether that be through fundraising events or volunteering.<br />
<br />
My real hope is that this blog inspires a few of you out there do something similar. Maybe you are already doing something like this, in which case I applaud you from the bottom of my heart. <br />
<br />
Either way, I really want to hear from you. Your ideas, your thoughts , the charities that mean something personal to you - if I can help in any way however small, it all makes a difference. Please get in touch!<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
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It's a small world after all!!magicdartshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11095926017533229807noreply@blogger.com13tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7235540803457479486.post-1980389457753291302010-05-05T08:26:00.000-07:002010-05-05T08:31:30.328-07:00The power of connections - running for Epilepsy researchSo back to work today, over into our Birmingham office this morning, and once again another remarkable connection made in the chain of good causes that this blog has opened my eyes to.<br />
<br />
In my recent posts, I've written about the London Marathon, written about Serene Low's fantastic epilepsy awareness blog and on comedian Russell Howard running for the National Society for Epilepsy charity.<br />
<br />
As a new month begins I've totalled up the available online earnings funds and am in the process of sorting out donations to the charities I've highlighted in the last couple of weeks.<br />
<br />
Then whilst in the office canteen getting my morning tea and toast, there I see a small notice plaque about one of my UK based work colleagues Mark Pickard, running in the London Marathon on behalf of Epilepsy Research UK. tear off a strip of paper with the fundraising website address<br />
<br />
<a href="http://uk.virginmoneygiving.com/Pickard">uk.virginmoneygiving.com/Pickard</a><br />
<br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi1zEKiDtOLWMHy6QFqbGO6lmZO9iYmC5PfTiTUyKm5O9be6Ii_WhVbpN_GBQ8zh4BMjbqobOi_mSUhwxz88iuDRJVcet5tEp1ATa9BhK9UMPebo7hNcjRoS0gTMd6YG2dKrcN7lHbiHvU/s1600/run+(Large).jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi1zEKiDtOLWMHy6QFqbGO6lmZO9iYmC5PfTiTUyKm5O9be6Ii_WhVbpN_GBQ8zh4BMjbqobOi_mSUhwxz88iuDRJVcet5tEp1ATa9BhK9UMPebo7hNcjRoS0gTMd6YG2dKrcN7lHbiHvU/s320/run+(Large).jpg" width="244" /></a></div><br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;">Here in their own words are their reasons for taking part on behalf their son Harry.</div><div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;"><br />
</div><div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;">"We have decided to run the London marathon this year TOGETHER! and we are running for the charity Epilepsy Research UK, for a cause that mean a lot to us.</div><div><br />
</div><br />
Harry is a very happy and healthy 9 year old, but in 2005 he started to collapse for no apparent reason, at first it was thought he was having "normal" childhood feberal convulsions, however as the frequency and severity of these collapses increased further tests diagnosed Epilepsy. Our worst fears were realised as Fiona has had live through her father having Epilepsy for over 30 years. However Harry's type of Epilepsy has now been diagnosed (Atonic) and he has been treated successfully for over 4 now and we have had only a few recurrences. Hopefully he will grow out of his Epilepsy, but he may well have to be on medication for some time maybe indefinitely. However both Harry and his Grandfather are very well, and we have no reason to think that Epilepsy will adversely effect their lives.<br />
<br />
However the experience has motivated us to try and repay in some way the support we have had in diagnosing Harry's Epilepsy, and we have decided to try and lug our bodies around the streets of London on the 25th of April.<br />
<br />
<a name='more'></a><br />
<br />
Through Virgin Money Giving, you can sponsor me and donations will be quickly processed and passed to Epilepsy Research UK. Virgin Money Giving is a not for profit organisation and will claim gift aid on a charities behalf where the donor is eligible for this. I really appreciate all your support and thank you for any donations.<br />
<br />
Thanks for you support<br />
<br />
Mark and Fiona Pickard"<br />
<br />
It really is great working within such a large corporate environment to link up with new people and to be able to show support for the fantastic causes they are involved with, so thanks again Mark for allowing me to share this with my blogging network!<br />
<br />
Please do take a look, and then pass on across your own social and blogging networks, and hopefully the positive messages and awareness will continue to gather momentum.<br />
<br />
Once again, hoping to announce the latest round of donations in the next couple of days, so will keep you posted!magicdartshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11095926017533229807noreply@blogger.com5tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7235540803457479486.post-19415993120320960392010-05-03T09:26:00.000-07:002010-05-04T12:22:58.647-07:00Going the Distance!<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhpi0i_2Za5X5HR6WvmCzh4SUuIcbkIEXvshgf8cG8KeJh85gQ4pX4hcSwiWdr10tAFwhcT-XVrD8bm1YxdnJeY4AYhXtk1ff6Yyrb0ONURDjkuJRIKkCRmwwG4Wuj7CYzyEDfsrX2ZKPE/s1600/caspa+team.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhpi0i_2Za5X5HR6WvmCzh4SUuIcbkIEXvshgf8cG8KeJh85gQ4pX4hcSwiWdr10tAFwhcT-XVrD8bm1YxdnJeY4AYhXtk1ff6Yyrb0ONURDjkuJRIKkCRmwwG4Wuj7CYzyEDfsrX2ZKPE/s640/caspa+team.jpg" width="427" /></a></div><br />
Well another very busy but hugely enjoyable family weekend for me, so sorry I haven't had much time to write and catch up with my fellow bloggers<br />
<br />
In amongst grass cutting duties, swimming lessons, and numerous trips out chasing after our ever energetic young "son"shine, I even managed to squeeze in a 7 mile run on the treadmill, but frankly those exertions seem ridiculously insignificant in comparison with the super human efforts of Ivor and his team pictured above.<br />
<br />
As you'll hopefully already have seen in my recent blog entries, over the last four days, Ivor and friends have been running a phenomenal 90Kilometres (56 miles) from London to Brighton, to raise money for the Children on the Austistic Spectrum Parents association or CASPA.<br />
<br />
By all accounts they've had to battle through the very worst of British May Bank Holiday weekend conditions with howling winds , rain and mud to contend with all along the route.<br />
<br />
From the update reports on facebook I know they had reached the 70KM mark by late last night, and were hoping to be in Brighton by 3pm today.<br />
<br />
I have absolutely doubt they've made it by now, and hopefully they are enjoying a very well earned rest in a deckchair, icecreams in hand, the works!!<br />
<br />
For the very latest please take a look on the blog,<br />
h<a href="http://fourdaysrunning.blogspot.com/">ttp://fourdaysrunning.blogspot.com/</a><br />
<br />
Show your support and join up with the facebook group at:<br />
<br />
STOP PRESS : Here they are at the finish line in Brighton - what an achievement!!<br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhaV6yxOkudheg3rcE1hmhuWh2Ruh2vfJt3ibzIqBtZh2aCJEOUQq7XyIynBZwIkDSs59UssBCciuWYPT6kLxdqW3w7gN3iwycCPI3VozsGE1YETOX4dSz5RxnX9P5ISKXCT5YVNhFPdv8/s1600/finish+line.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="267" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhaV6yxOkudheg3rcE1hmhuWh2Ruh2vfJt3ibzIqBtZh2aCJEOUQq7XyIynBZwIkDSs59UssBCciuWYPT6kLxdqW3w7gN3iwycCPI3VozsGE1YETOX4dSz5RxnX9P5ISKXCT5YVNhFPdv8/s400/finish+line.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><a href="http://www.facebook.com/group.php?gid=117000564991878">http://www.facebook.com/group.php?gid=117000564991878</a><br />
Or to make a donation on :<br />
<a href="http://www.justgiving.com/fourdaysrunning">http://www.justgiving.com/fourdaysrunning</a><br />
<br />
From one of Ivor's most recent updates looks like they've raised well over £3000 which should go along way towards a new club facility for the kids. What a fantastic example to us all!magicdartshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11095926017533229807noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7235540803457479486.post-14914455209376585442010-04-28T13:13:00.000-07:002010-04-30T01:31:22.278-07:00Be part of a very special delivery service!<span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #333333; font-family: 'lucida grande', tahoma, verdana, arial, sans-serif; font-size: 11px;"></span><br />
<div class="UIStoryAttachment_Caption" style="padding-top: 3px;"><br />
<div style="margin: 0cm;"><span style="color: black;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: medium;">It's always great when you can connect up previous blog entries and themes, and I’m pleased to say that today’s post is a prime example of that.</span></span></span></div><div style="margin: 0cm;"><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjS9dVy1yju79N7WgX0ruv-DLnxkprp-D3A8NdOvlnVHjoVzHOQICsQwVsaXQGLE7v2mlLArNO79H7kJhmPSbWxbwEwF4vM4XqX8zvB5wanv7DjicRdiKsJtTkb-uKWfqesVGhBPgga1fI/s1600/serena.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjS9dVy1yju79N7WgX0ruv-DLnxkprp-D3A8NdOvlnVHjoVzHOQICsQwVsaXQGLE7v2mlLArNO79H7kJhmPSbWxbwEwF4vM4XqX8zvB5wanv7DjicRdiKsJtTkb-uKWfqesVGhBPgga1fI/s320/serena.JPG" width="320" /></a></div><br />
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</div><div style="margin: 0cm;"><span style="color: black;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: medium;">A couple of weeks back, I wrote about the tireless campaigning being done by Serena Low to raise awareness globally about epilepsy as well as much needed research funds. </span></span></span></div><div style="margin: 0cm;"><br />
</div><div style="margin: 0cm;"><span style="color: black;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: medium;">If you get chance, please take a look at her blog and if you are on twitter please click on the pink ribbon on the right hand side of this page to show your support.</span></span></span></div><div style="margin: 0cm;"><u><span style="color: blue;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: medium;"><a href="http://www.epilepsylegacy.blogspot.com/"></a></span></span></span><a href="http://www.epilepsylegacy.blogspot.com/"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: medium;"><br />
http://www.epilepsylegacy.blogspot.com/</span></span></a></u><span style="color: black;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: medium;"></span></span></span></div><div style="margin: 0cm;"><br />
</div><div style="margin: 0cm;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div><span style="color: black;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: medium;">So while I was on her site, I took a look at the links to see if there was an epilepsy charity that I could support in the </span></span></span><country-region><place><span style="color: black;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: medium;">UK</span></span></span></place></country-region><span style="color: black;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: medium;">. I clicked on some of the links and in the process discovered that one of my absolute favourite comedians Russell Howard, was about to run the London marathon along with his sister and his younger brother Daniel who has epilepsy, in support of the National Society for Epilepsy.</span></span></span><br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjXmwd-VhDPhSmR8ZJljCyZatHC3zPx6G4EkzwMPzB8uqf1DLTeEMp40wKUTO3Twaa4xkL3WYlxWErWRUs76Bkc1OMIQiHNz7k9KShEj9edm7sQ5GVgius4PkwYzY98BlGLhqO6QSpV0mw/s1600/russell+howared.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjXmwd-VhDPhSmR8ZJljCyZatHC3zPx6G4EkzwMPzB8uqf1DLTeEMp40wKUTO3Twaa4xkL3WYlxWErWRUs76Bkc1OMIQiHNz7k9KShEj9edm7sQ5GVgius4PkwYzY98BlGLhqO6QSpV0mw/s400/russell+howared.jpg" width="265" /></a></div><span style="color: black;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: medium;"><br />
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<span style="color: black;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: medium;">Pleased to report that Russell finished the course in a very impressive four hours and 20 minutes, and is more than half way to achieving his £10,000 fundraising target – see link below</span></span></span></div><div style="margin: 0cm;"><br />
</div><div style="margin: 0cm;"><a href="http://uk.virginmoneygiving.com/fundraiser-web/fundraiser/showFundraiserProfilePage.action?userUrl=russellhowardsrunning&isTeam=true"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: medium;">http://uk.virginmoneygiving.com/fundraiser-web/fundraiser/showFundraiserProfilePage.action?userUrl=russellhowardsrunning&isTeam=true</span></span></a></div><div style="margin: 0cm;"><br />
</div><div style="margin: 0cm;"><span style="color: black;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: medium;">And now to the third link in this particular chain of positivity.</span></span></span></div><div style="margin: 0cm;"><br />
</div><div style="margin: 0cm;"><span style="color: black;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: medium;">Russell also happens to host his own weekly topical comedy show called Good News. Having seen the marathon footage, it reminded me that I had one of his shows recorded on Sky plus to catch up on. </span></span></span></div><div style="margin: 0cm;"><br />
</div><div style="margin: 0cm;"><span style="color: black;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: medium;">As the title suggests, one of the key elements is the show, is that every week, in the middle of all the gags and topical stuff, Russell always takes time out to share inspirational stories.</span></span></span></div><div style="margin: 0cm;"><br />
</div><div style="margin: 0cm;"><span style="color: black;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: medium;">I have to say that this particular feature really captured my imagination.</span></span></span></div><div style="margin: 0cm;"><br />
</div><div style="margin: 0cm;"><span style="color: black;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: medium;">He told the story of an incredible young lady called Vikki, who for the past 7 years as been essentially bed bound suffering with severe M</span></span></span><span class="apple-style-span"><span style="color: black;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: medium;">yalgic encephalomyelitis</span></span></span></span><span class="apple-converted-space"><span style="color: black;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: medium;"> </span></span></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: medium;">(<span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: black;">ME), also known as chronic fatigue syndrome.</span></span></span></span></div><div style="margin: 0cm;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjIID7MXsK_SNWEAuGIuy0cOW_dSCmwqFn50kDajl1qxf4sR2xUAtC0Nn45mPtXz8Xf_NZ5B3t8LcP8CC9tyb4iUS1xzYk9gnuVpZX7cQJQafFNrIkBJgW-C73KY-kqqO3c4x1sj6x6ggo/s1600/viks.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjIID7MXsK_SNWEAuGIuy0cOW_dSCmwqFn50kDajl1qxf4sR2xUAtC0Nn45mPtXz8Xf_NZ5B3t8LcP8CC9tyb4iUS1xzYk9gnuVpZX7cQJQafFNrIkBJgW-C73KY-kqqO3c4x1sj6x6ggo/s400/viks.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><br />
</div><div style="margin: 0cm;"><span class="apple-converted-space"><span style="color: black;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: medium;">Rather than dwelling on her own condition, she drew inspiration from all the cards and post she was sent to cheer her up and how much they meant to her and came up with the idea of Postpals. </span></span></span></span></div><div style="margin: 0cm;"><br />
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<div class="MsoNormal"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: medium;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: black;"><a href="http://www.blogger.com/goog_217732434"></a></span></span></span></div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: medium;"><a href="http://www.postpals.co.uk/">http://www.postpals.co.uk/</a></span></span></div><div style="margin: 0cm;"><span class="apple-converted-space"><span style="color: black;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: medium;">Basically, all the sick and seriously ill children registered with her site get post and gifts sent to them from all over the world.</span></span></span></span></div><div style="margin: 0cm;"><br />
</div><div style="line-height: 200%; margin: 0cm;"><span class="apple-converted-space"><span style="color: black;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: medium;">In her words “</span></span></span></span><span class="apple-style-span"><span style="color: black; line-height: 200%;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: medium;">When I first became bedbound I was sent so many cards it wasn’t long before my walls and ceiling were covered, it became my reason to wake up each day.</span></span></span></span><span class="apple-converted-space"><span style="color: black; line-height: 200%;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: medium;"> </span></span></span></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: medium;"><br />
</span></span><span class="apple-style-span"><span style="color: black; line-height: 200%;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: medium;">It was this that gave me the idea for Post Pals, although I hoped it would "catch on" I didn't dream it would touch as many lives as it has, both families with seriously ill children and of the volunteers around the world. I'm so very proud of it! I do the running of Post Pals from bed with a laptop, and my room (and I confess a big chunk of my parents house) looks like a cross between a mail room and a toy shop!"</span></span></span></span></div><div style="line-height: 200%; margin: 0cm;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: black;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: medium;"><br />
</span></span></span></div><div style="line-height: 200%; margin: 0cm;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: black;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: medium;">Please , please take a look at the site - if this doesn't move you I really don't know what will. </span></span></span></div><div style="line-height: 200%; margin: 0cm;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: black;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: medium;"><br />
</span></span></span></div><div style="line-height: 200%; margin: 0cm;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: black;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: medium;">Everyone of us can play a part, as well as post, people can send emails, donate to support the service. What could possibly be more rewarding than knowing that a few minutes of your day could mean so much to a poorly little one.</span></span></span></div><div style="line-height: 200%; margin: 0cm;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: black;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: medium;"><br />
</span></span></span></div><div style="line-height: 200%; margin: 0cm;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: black;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: medium;">Thanks for reading</span></span></span> </div></div>magicdartshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11095926017533229807noreply@blogger.com13tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7235540803457479486.post-68246168711615563972010-04-26T13:31:00.000-07:002010-04-26T13:31:16.286-07:00Let me get some running shoes and lead you through the streets of London!<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgISHlta-elcBkgwUAGToZDFIjlPamTagafzqTnZwmPDms31zOSJQBfTKQcXOQBI6Q7TLl-CaxgYTNomQXnZyHp5Rj26Rm0HLabOMrbT0nvZC2TAhBwVyJ6_FjzUhcXBY3FMpUtRmWM9HE/s1600/london-marathon.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgISHlta-elcBkgwUAGToZDFIjlPamTagafzqTnZwmPDms31zOSJQBfTKQcXOQBI6Q7TLl-CaxgYTNomQXnZyHp5Rj26Rm0HLabOMrbT0nvZC2TAhBwVyJ6_FjzUhcXBY3FMpUtRmWM9HE/s640/london-marathon.jpg" width="524" /></a></div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="line-height: 19px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;"><br />
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="line-height: 19px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;">Last Sunday, one of the most inspirational events in the British sporting calendar, the London Marathon celebrated it's 30th running. </span></span><br />
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="line-height: 19px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;">I can well remember as a 10 year old sports fanatic, being glued to the screen throughout the very first running, as we were taken on a whistle-stop tour round all the great and historic treasures of the city. </span></span><br />
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="line-height: 19px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;">Then at the finale, as they ran through the 385 yards of the Royal Mall, the two leading runners joined hands and crossed the line together. A moment of true sportsmanship to mark the beginning of a very special annual event.</span></span><br />
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="line-height: 19px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;">From those 6,000 or so runners who took part in the very first race, its popularity has just grown and grown - this year a record 36,000 runners completed the course, and in total nearly 3/4 of a million runners have completed the gruelling 26 mile event. We</span></span><br />
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="line-height: 19px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;">But whilst it remains a serious athletic event, attracting the very best runners from around the globe, its enduring success is founded on the incredible efforts of the masses of runners who take part to help numerous different charities . </span></span><br />
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="line-height: 19px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;">According to race organisers, it is now established as the largest single annual fund raising event in the world. Estimates of the total annual amount raised are between £40 and £50 million and well over 75% of participants do so in support of good causes.</span></span><br />
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="line-height: 19px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;">So I think you'll agree a very positive way to start the new week.</span></span><br />
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="line-height: 19px;">Continuing on the theme, one of my fellow online writers, Mr Ivor Reveley, is preparing to face a very special running challenge of his own, starting next weekend in London. As I've written in a previous entry, Ivor is taking part in a gruelling challenge to run the 90 Kilometres from London to Brighton over the May Bank Holiday weekend on behalf of CASPA - Children on the Autistic Spectrum Parents association.</span></span><br />
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="line-height: 19px;">Ivor's 16 year old son Matthew has Autism with complex additional needs. </span></span><br />
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="line-height: 19px;">Ivor not only helped found the charity which started out as a small parental support group but is fully committed as the chair and trustee of the charity, organising special events and workshops for young people with autism.</span></span><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhIRWbXKL3D2EdyWra6ukHdwljYbbTENyPhPsdIpVT3yUS0g-7ARVLTlZFW8KQ1YjPWPbmw1S_g9nm1pRJIachGRkTwWxkCsWAGqDfF4zpmiHGmdUwDUdKC8Um7HQA9UnahHZWliLhhqDA/s1600/Ivor.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhIRWbXKL3D2EdyWra6ukHdwljYbbTENyPhPsdIpVT3yUS0g-7ARVLTlZFW8KQ1YjPWPbmw1S_g9nm1pRJIachGRkTwWxkCsWAGqDfF4zpmiHGmdUwDUdKC8Um7HQA9UnahHZWliLhhqDA/s400/Ivor.jpg" width="372" wt="true" /></a></div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="line-height: 19px;"><br />
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="line-height: 19px;">You can read much more about how you can get involved and support their efforts at <span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Times New Roman'; line-height: normal;"><a href="http://fourdaysrunning.blogspot.com/"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;">http://fourdaysrunning.blogspot.com/</span></a></span></span></span><br />
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="line-height: 19px;">Also a big thank you to a much more established member of the blogging community, Mandy Southgate, who took the time out to meet with Ivor and highlight his efforts on her own Emm in London blog at <span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Times New Roman'; line-height: normal;"><a href="http://missus-emm.blogspot.com/2010/03/running-for-autism.html">http://missus-emm.blogspot.com/2010/03/running-for-autism.html</a></span></span></span><br />
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="line-height: 19px;">It really means a lot when people like Mandy take the time out to help us relative minnows in the blogging universe to get much needed publicity and support and she's also been to visit my recent blog entries around the Makomborero Zimbabwe project I highlighted last week. Really, I'd highly recommend to take a look at her work - all of us blogging novices can learn a huge amount from it!</span></span><br />
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="line-height: 19px;">Thanks for reading!</span></span><br />
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</span></span>magicdartshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11095926017533229807noreply@blogger.com12tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7235540803457479486.post-23168478717739644332010-04-23T02:33:00.000-07:002010-04-23T02:53:16.117-07:00Making a difference in her own back yard - please help end this cruelty<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh5zvn3d7AtB2S905-xzcggABRSxdKL6e5y88rvTufjJ20U-efsTD0TPgPV68JG4EiCZ77a5KqXTmFnWiTJ9x7A0_7c0PS7AJ8o9mYbwh_1zwelCnu3BnHGjxsZDP10gZIOG9RHtSoW2xY/s1600/batteryhens5.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh5zvn3d7AtB2S905-xzcggABRSxdKL6e5y88rvTufjJ20U-efsTD0TPgPV68JG4EiCZ77a5KqXTmFnWiTJ9x7A0_7c0PS7AJ8o9mYbwh_1zwelCnu3BnHGjxsZDP10gZIOG9RHtSoW2xY/s640/batteryhens5.jpg" width="640" /></a></div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small; line-height: 18px;"><br />
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="line-height: 18px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;">Another fellow review writer Angie who I know from dooyoo (<a href="http://dooyoo.co.uk/">http://dooyoo.co.uk</a>), recently got in touch with me to ask if I could throw the spotlight on animal cruelty and more specifically the appalling conditions in which Battery Hens are forced to exist. </span></span><br />
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="line-height: 18px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Times, 'Times New Roman', serif;">A</span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;">lthough I always try to buy free range labelled eggs, having read this, in future I for one am 100% definitely going to make sure I never purchase any eggs that doesn't make it absolutely clear that they are free range.</span></span><br />
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="line-height: 18px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;">It is a clearly a cause to which she is very personally committed to, even to the point of caring for ex Battery hens at her own home. Despite her best efforts over the past year, sadly, the emaciated bird "little red" shown below in the picture recently lost its fight for life.</span></span><br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhMPzxGz750vSYUSBX4AppxwpJdZE8wsOtd__mpfbj7VjEW6oaoGOlxDq_6TAZpjHQ35hJcrC6h3CG9oyoSX84LdX4-DTjT9FDU9_NiWmpQ2UObKyf1sHe19Ca5Te11a9IL7_9f0l2aq5Q/s1600/battery+hen.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: black;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;"><img border="0" height="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhMPzxGz750vSYUSBX4AppxwpJdZE8wsOtd__mpfbj7VjEW6oaoGOlxDq_6TAZpjHQ35hJcrC6h3CG9oyoSX84LdX4-DTjT9FDU9_NiWmpQ2UObKyf1sHe19Ca5Te11a9IL7_9f0l2aq5Q/s200/battery+hen.jpg" width="150" /></span></span></a></div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="line-height: 18px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;"><br />
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="line-height: 18px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;">Here's an extract from a review she wrote about the plight of these birds which she has kindly given permission for me to reproduce here. </span></span><br />
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="line-height: 18px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;">Although it really makes for uncomfortable reading, please do take a look and if you can please pay a visit to the websites of the charities highlighted.</span></span><br />
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="line-height: 18px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;">"As an owner of 3 ex battery hens and very passionate about their plight I have decided to write this in the hope that it may do some good and save a few hens from suffering. </span></span><br />
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Battery egg hens live in a tiny cage made of wire, the space they have is about the size of an A4 sheet of paper, so they hardly move. All they can do is to eat, drink and lay egg after egg. Deprived of normal chicken behaviour they will pull out the feathers of hens in nearby cages. </span></span><br />
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="line-height: 18px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;">Lights are kept on for longer to encourage them to lay more, this puts a great deal of strain onto their bodies and causes more health problems. </span></span><br />
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="line-height: 18px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;">Injuries are common and often not noticed or treated. Broken legs and torn ligaments are not uncommon.<br />
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Without being able to scratch around their nails grow long causing more discomfort.<br />
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Between 14 and 18 months the hen is of no more use because her egg production drops. At this stage one of 2 things will happen, either she will get lucky and end up being taken by a hen rescue organisation or she will be taken to slaughter and end up in dog food and baby food...yes that's correct baby food!</span></span><br />
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="line-height: 18px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;"><a name='more'></a></span></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="line-height: 18px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;"><br />
Hens can live for up to 10 years and lay for around 4 years. Their natural instinct is to scratch around for food, to perch, take dust baths, stretch out their wings and take some sun and even fly a few feet. All of this is taken away while in those tiny cages. </span> </span><br />
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="line-height: 18px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;">~What can you do?~ </span></span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="line-height: 18px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;"><br />
</span></span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="line-height: 18px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;">The first thing that you can do is to stop buying eggs from caged hens. Some of the boxes look very attractive and unless you take a close look you might not even realise that they are from caged hens. I know that free range are more expensive but is the few pence really worth the suffering that these poor birds have to indure?<br />
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Write to your supermarket and ask them to consider stocking only free range. Sainsbury's and Marks and Spencer already have this policy. M&S will not sell anything that contains egg unless it is free range. The Co Op have also stopped selling caged hen eggs. Tescos and Asda still do, not sure about other supermarkets so if anyone can comment on those please do.<br />
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Write to the government and express your views and urge them to stop this awful trade.<br />
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Maybe you have some room in your garden and could adopt a few ex battery hens yourself.<br />
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If you have any cash to spare then consider a donation to one of the ex battery hen organisations. They are not funded in anyway and everyone involved in hen rescues do it out of compassion for then hens. Volunteers are always wanted so again if this is something that you could do then contact them. </span> </span><br />
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</span></span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="line-height: 18px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: black;"><a href="http://www.bhwt.org.uk/%C2%A0"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;">http://www.bhwt.org.uk/ </span></a></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;"><br />
</span> </span><br />
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</span></span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="line-height: 18px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: black;"><a href="http://www.henrehomers.net/%C2%A0"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;">http://www.henrehomers.net/ </span></a></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;"><br />
<br />
I am particularly sensitive to the ex batt plight today because one of ours is ill. Her body abused from intensive forced laying has taken its toll and we are doing our best to stop her laying but this will take time. She has oedema and her organs are struggling to function normally. She has laid so many eggs in her young life that when she does lay she bleeds.<br />
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She has had a wonderful year doing what chickens should be doing and we hope to have another summer with her but right now its one day at a time. We have a no suffering policy so if we have to then we will have her put to sleep, which will break our hearts.<br />
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Please help end the suffering.<br />
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17 April Update on our poorly hen.<br />
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Sadly we lost her this morning, her poor little body could do longer function due to the stress put on it in her life before we gave her the freedom she deserved. R.I.P Little Red :-(<br />
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Please everyone that reads this do what you can to help end this cruel industry" </span> </span><br />
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</span></span>magicdartshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11095926017533229807noreply@blogger.com17tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7235540803457479486.post-33903717701874112232010-04-21T14:39:00.000-07:002010-04-22T04:56:54.996-07:00Makomborero Zimbabwe - a quick correctionHi!<br />
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Just to let you know in last nights blog I incorrectly posted the wrong URL for the Makomborero charity home page - it should be http://<a href="http://www.makomborero.info/">www.makomborero.info</a> - Thanks to fellow blogger Emm for spotting that one.<br />
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Also here as promised, are some of the pictures that aren't visible on the previous entry:<br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhq2d23AyFFOvOYccUEz_1eBHDil35aR2PriwNww7g-2H1QjAlRuRGoRzjK7u5CFl1Kdh_t9Jhua4IfMqXhxE9nCmTpmCwjinJepl8ndAAHgzMb75BbbN_ATXWewLuG0neFp8i3Xxf1A7A/s1600/future+a+level+pupils.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="267" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhq2d23AyFFOvOYccUEz_1eBHDil35aR2PriwNww7g-2H1QjAlRuRGoRzjK7u5CFl1Kdh_t9Jhua4IfMqXhxE9nCmTpmCwjinJepl8ndAAHgzMb75BbbN_ATXWewLuG0neFp8i3Xxf1A7A/s400/future+a+level+pupils.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><br />
For some reason I can't seem to edit the original blog , and I don't want to lose the comments I have, especially as I have one from the Albertyns on that entry, which will take you directly to their blog.<br />
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Building in progress:<br />
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Before:<br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgapKJn_5kC24TnhMRtBd5CVc4wciYJWkxz5vFgFEzNYUPQQXkqfiNKSWtPL_aYbtm-cLuDCnsA276hplJjmwZbKb8SVoU77yhSt82PJ8ys4GO2RnFZ61YWkHJLI3F8_u8xvg4iDCEXOsk/s1600/a+level+classrooms.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="267" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgapKJn_5kC24TnhMRtBd5CVc4wciYJWkxz5vFgFEzNYUPQQXkqfiNKSWtPL_aYbtm-cLuDCnsA276hplJjmwZbKb8SVoU77yhSt82PJ8ys4GO2RnFZ61YWkHJLI3F8_u8xvg4iDCEXOsk/s400/a+level+classrooms.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><br />
After:<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgHSK-J13y0sW4Earlo17WJpcnU-E-kH5TavbhaStvIXRRCDcLLDI34S45hUaapoqjmL9aLvAcXyjd5Eeh4v5B75quu1L6V1DMJJ6QK-Fr35Yt1qB_I-wOQPV-KQYmSFBUw35MGnsaZ250/s1600/complete.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgHSK-J13y0sW4Earlo17WJpcnU-E-kH5TavbhaStvIXRRCDcLLDI34S45hUaapoqjmL9aLvAcXyjd5Eeh4v5B75quu1L6V1DMJJ6QK-Fr35Yt1qB_I-wOQPV-KQYmSFBUw35MGnsaZ250/s400/complete.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">Assembly!</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiNYy9QxlS8ZW9fKpGTPYFEKulpEOy6zWbjSC2ju5dTCqYlFDhYBWXa0tTTBLxb3o9PqibIHHJe4EAOi9yJRpLnqs9xyDIaOGL7JA2d5zWLPOzt3TWPPpx8pRvg9DoM-9Mx38RmJkM2N3E/s1600/zimbabwe.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="267" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiNYy9QxlS8ZW9fKpGTPYFEKulpEOy6zWbjSC2ju5dTCqYlFDhYBWXa0tTTBLxb3o9PqibIHHJe4EAOi9yJRpLnqs9xyDIaOGL7JA2d5zWLPOzt3TWPPpx8pRvg9DoM-9Mx38RmJkM2N3E/s400/zimbabwe.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><br />
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Please go and say hello to Mark and Laura , I know your support would mean an awful lot to them.<br />
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="-webkit-text-decorations-in-effect: underline; font-family: Verdana, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 12px;"><a href="http://albertynzim.blogspot.com/">http://albertynzim.blogspot.com</a></span><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="-webkit-text-decorations-in-effect: underline; font-family: Verdana, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 12px;"><br />
</span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="-webkit-text-decorations-in-effect: underline; font-family: Verdana, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 12px;">Thanks for reading!</span></div>magicdartshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11095926017533229807noreply@blogger.com5tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7235540803457479486.post-27735159131825398242010-04-20T14:58:00.000-07:002010-04-20T15:12:09.441-07:00Following a dream : Makomberero Zimbabwe - a truly inspiring vision<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEihLsDWYCDKiOEy9mSI6xDMYL6KtU7EtOE-EY7gsiMcq7yInrQbPq2wIInDkUn0lWC6NIl6bZ6Etxg_JmCVhifXTtQuqRz3mr_2-_vYqzl6_bGVf5WFI-ry80q-Ve6hGMteUhcP8zroZS0/s1600/future+6th+formers.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="267" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEihLsDWYCDKiOEy9mSI6xDMYL6KtU7EtOE-EY7gsiMcq7yInrQbPq2wIInDkUn0lWC6NIl6bZ6Etxg_JmCVhifXTtQuqRz3mr_2-_vYqzl6_bGVf5WFI-ry80q-Ve6hGMteUhcP8zroZS0/s400/future+6th+formers.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><div style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt; margin-left: 0cm; margin-right: 0cm; margin-top: 0cm; text-align: left;"><span style="mso-bidi-font-weight: bold;"><br />
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</span></div><div style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt; margin-left: 0cm; margin-right: 0cm; margin-top: 0cm; text-align: left;"><span style="mso-bidi-font-weight: bold;">Tonight, it’s my absolute privilege to help spread the word about a very special educational charity initiative.</span><o:p></o:p></div><div style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt; margin-left: 0cm; margin-right: 0cm; margin-top: 0cm; text-align: left;"><br />
</div><div style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt; margin-left: 0cm; margin-right: 0cm; margin-top: 0cm; text-align: left;"><span style="mso-bidi-font-style: italic; mso-bidi-font-weight: bold;">One of my old University friends recently got in touch to tell me about the bold and visionary project called Makombero (meaning blessings) that is now finally getting close to becoming a reality for Mark and Laura Albertyn. </span><o:p></o:p></div><div style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt; margin-left: 0cm; margin-right: 0cm; margin-top: 0cm; text-align: left;"><br />
</div><div style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt; margin-left: 0cm; margin-right: 0cm; margin-top: 0cm; text-align: left;"><span style="mso-bidi-font-style: italic; mso-bidi-font-weight: bold;">They are native Zimbabweans, who have spent the last few years working in the UK, but have always with the dream to set up an A-level school back in Zimbabwe. It has taken some time to get the funds together but now finally they are heading back to <st1:country-region w:st="on"><st1:place w:st="on">Zimbabwe</st1:place></st1:country-region> this summer.</span><o:p></o:p></div><div style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt; margin-left: 0cm; margin-right: 0cm; margin-top: 0cm; text-align: left;"><br />
</div><div style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt; margin-left: 0cm; margin-right: 0cm; margin-top: 0cm; text-align: left;"><span style="mso-bidi-font-style: italic; mso-bidi-font-weight: bold;">Please, please, please take a look at the charity's website<span class="apple-converted-space"> </span></span><a href="http://www.makombero.info/"><span style="color: windowtext; mso-bidi-font-style: italic; mso-bidi-font-weight: bold;">http://www.makombero.info</span></a><span style="mso-bidi-font-style: italic; mso-bidi-font-weight: bold;"> and also their blog at </span><a href="http://albertynzim.blogspot.com/" target="_blank"><span style="color: windowtext; mso-bidi-font-style: italic; mso-bidi-font-weight: bold;">http://albertynzim.blogspot.com/</span></a><span style="mso-bidi-font-style: italic; mso-bidi-font-weight: bold;">, it tells the story much better than I ever could. There you will find details of how you can get involved, support, volunteer, donate and become a part of this community adventure. </span><o:p></o:p></div><div style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt; margin-left: 0cm; margin-right: 0cm; margin-top: 0cm; text-align: left;"><span style="mso-bidi-font-style: italic; mso-bidi-font-weight: bold;">Here's a few pictures taken from a recent presentation about the project</span><o:p></o:p></div><div style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt; margin-left: 0cm; margin-right: 0cm; margin-top: 0cm; text-align: left;"><br />
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</div><div style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt; margin-left: 0cm; margin-right: 0cm; margin-top: 0cm; text-align: left;"><span style="color: black; mso-bidi-font-size: 13.5pt; mso-bidi-font-style: italic; mso-bidi-font-weight: bold;">Before:</span><span style="color: black; mso-bidi-font-size: 13.5pt;"><o:p></o:p></span></div><div style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt; margin-left: 0cm; margin-right: 0cm; margin-top: 0cm; text-align: left;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt; margin-left: 0cm; margin-right: 0cm; margin-top: 0cm; text-align: center;"><span style="color: black; mso-bidi-font-size: 13.5pt;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjIv6svJ5ACasYjQRElfJdHYxd0MCYzsf6Fb9wmSvpeiZj4XL36rkr19DxkCv48sOLxV_fe0hg_fZwldUJlojKlBf50jjPUdIrABNfBwCbfjtLet_RUU6A_WBAFVY2BZdANH3yneeAoO7s/s1600/a+level+classrooms.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="float: left; text-align: left;"><span style="mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt; mso-bidi-font-style: italic; mso-bidi-font-weight: bold; text-decoration: none; text-underline: none;"><!--[if gte vml 1]><v:shapetype id="_x0000_t75"
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</span></span></div><div style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt; margin-left: 0cm; margin-right: 0cm; margin-top: 0cm; text-align: left;"><span class="apple-style-span"><span style="color: black; mso-bidi-font-style: italic; mso-bidi-font-weight: bold;">An assembly in progress:</span></span><span style="color: black; mso-bidi-font-size: 13.5pt;"><o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="separator" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt; margin-left: 0cm; margin-right: 0cm; margin-top: 0cm; text-align: center;"><span style="color: black; mso-bidi-font-size: 13.5pt;"><o:p><br />
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</div><div style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt; margin-left: 0cm; margin-right: 0cm; margin-top: 0cm; text-align: left;"><span style="color: black; mso-bidi-font-size: 13.5pt;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgsuKFUUB8y2KRvp7UQzOqsjjuILKzKjiVusS7TprRgD06QhcnkgHarKWbhoqTlifQZt-4wEXHHFt0GUcFdSOrN__zSpfnW1qkecuVcoVMuKvUq-HDigMew4YO8YLQlhB-bAe4ZoCGkGvo/s1600/zimbabwe.jpg" imageanchor="1"><span style="mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt; mso-bidi-font-style: italic; mso-bidi-font-weight: bold; text-decoration: none; text-underline: none;"><!--[if gte vml 1]><v:shape
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o:href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgsuKFUUB8y2KRvp7UQzOqsjjuILKzKjiVusS7TprRgD06QhcnkgHarKWbhoqTlifQZt-4wEXHHFt0GUcFdSOrN__zSpfnW1qkecuVcoVMuKvUq-HDigMew4YO8YLQlhB-bAe4ZoCGkGvo/s320/zimbabwe.jpg"/> </v:shape><![endif]--><img border="0" height="214" src="file:///D:\PROFILES\WilsonP3\LOCALS~1\Temp\msohtml1\01\clip_image003.jpg" v:shapes="_x0000_i1027" width="320" /></span></a><o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="separator" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt; margin-left: 0cm; margin-right: 0cm; margin-top: 0cm; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt; margin-left: 0cm; margin-right: 0cm; margin-top: 0cm; text-align: left;"><span class="apple-style-span"><span style="mso-bidi-font-style: italic; mso-bidi-font-weight: bold;">As soon as I heard about their remarkable plans it really struck a chord with me. </span></span><span style="mso-bidi-font-size: 13.5pt;"><o:p></o:p></span></div><div style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt; margin-left: 0cm; margin-right: 0cm; margin-top: 0cm; text-align: left;"><br />
</div><div style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt; margin-left: 0cm; margin-right: 0cm; margin-top: 0cm; text-align: left;"><span class="apple-style-span"><span style="mso-bidi-font-size: 24.0pt; mso-bidi-font-style: italic; mso-bidi-font-weight: bold;">Back in 1981, my Dad took up a job at a steelworks in <st1:country-region w:st="on"><st1:place w:st="on">Zimbabwe</st1:place></st1:country-region>, and we all moved out there to live for a few years until 1984. As you can imagine for a young lad of 10 or 11 who had barely ventured out of his home village let alone overseas, it was an incredible experience for me. At the time, there was such a positive feeling of hope for the future in newly independent <st1:country-region w:st="on"><st1:place w:st="on">Zimbabwe</st1:place></st1:country-region>, and that was most noticeable for me when attending the local secondary school. For so many of the pupils there with me who had previously been denied access simply because of the colour of their skin, it was a huge deal, and they were really motivated to learn. I will never forget the spirit of learning of my fellow classmates. I was one of only a couple of white kids in the class, but it was absolutely never an issue, it was all about working hard to achieve that much prized education.</span></span><span style="mso-bidi-font-size: 13.5pt;"><o:p></o:p></span></div><div style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt; margin-left: 0cm; margin-right: 0cm; margin-top: 0cm; text-align: left;"><br />
</div><div style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt; margin-left: 0cm; margin-right: 0cm; margin-top: 0cm; text-align: left;"><span class="apple-style-span"><span style="mso-bidi-font-size: 24.0pt; mso-bidi-font-style: italic; mso-bidi-font-weight: bold;">Whatever your views on the politics involved, as has become so painfully apparent in recent years, the people of <st1:country-region w:st="on"><st1:place w:st="on">Zimbabwe</st1:place></st1:country-region> have suffered terribly with the horrendous effects of famine, disease and economic hardship. Two people, two proud Zimbabweans are determined to make a difference</span></span><span style="mso-bidi-font-size: 13.5pt;"><o:p></o:p></span></div><div style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt; margin-left: 0cm; margin-right: 0cm; margin-top: 0cm; text-align: left;"><br />
</div><div style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt; margin-left: 0cm; margin-right: 0cm; margin-top: 0cm; text-align: left;"><span class="apple-style-span"><span style="mso-bidi-font-size: 24.0pt; mso-bidi-font-style: italic; mso-bidi-font-weight: bold;">And I applaud them for that, from the bottom of my heart.</span></span><span style="mso-bidi-font-size: 13.5pt;"><o:p></o:p></span></div><div style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt; margin-left: 0cm; margin-right: 0cm; margin-top: 0cm; text-align: left;"><br />
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</b></span></span></span></span>magicdartshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11095926017533229807noreply@blogger.com7tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7235540803457479486.post-3265016419444250842010-04-19T08:52:00.000-07:002010-04-19T09:07:00.948-07:00My only "Son"shine!<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg6xxqlmRjBONnsU-WP2wdrXITTohEo4Hpto54yxh_lyDfFp5Y8lbRKI9YWdAx88JBtQnlPkjbmz0pxRxzqepostJ9eEr2k-y-8a-607Yd6lP2ezP_mPmQ_DkL6ZCSCrHf0VcALEmYCF5Q/s1600/Sunset.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg6xxqlmRjBONnsU-WP2wdrXITTohEo4Hpto54yxh_lyDfFp5Y8lbRKI9YWdAx88JBtQnlPkjbmz0pxRxzqepostJ9eEr2k-y-8a-607Yd6lP2ezP_mPmQ_DkL6ZCSCrHf0VcALEmYCF5Q/s400/Sunset.jpg" width="400" wt="true" /></a></div><br />
A couple of days have passed since my last blog entry, but don't worry I'm back, refreshed from a long weekend break and raring to go, just that little bit busy again with work today. <br />
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A warm welcome to any new readers and followers - it's very encouraging to see people stopping by even when I'm away. My target of 300 followers by the end of the year is looking very achievable with nearly 50 followers in all now, more than half of which have joined in the last week or so. Please keep the comments coming and get in touch about any special charities you would like me to support. I've already got at least 3 more charities suggested by fellow writers out there that I'll be highlighting in the next couple of weeks.<br />
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As there's only time for a short piece today, I decided to have a quick trawl around the web to find a quote or two to help lift the gloom of the start of another working week. My favourite one that sums up the spirit of this blog comes from the late Dr Leo Buscaglia (1924 –1998)...an author and Professor at the University of California who was also affectionately known simply as Dr Love.<br />
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<span style="font-size: large;">"</span><em><span style="font-size: large;">Don't spend your precious time asking 'Why isn't the world a better place?' It will only be time wasted. The question to ask is 'How can I make it better?' To that there is an answer."</span> </em><br />
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Then again, sometimes when I’m looking for real inspiration, rather than go trawling around for inspired quotes and insights from the great and the good on this planet, I find the answer much closer to home. When seen through my son's fresh, imaginative mind, suddenly the world seems a very different and much simpler place.<br />
<div></div>Here's a few of my absolute favourites:<br />
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<span style="font-size: large;"><em>“I’m not a lazy lump...I’m a tired lump!"</em></span><br />
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<span style="font-size: large;"><em>"Mummy you are delicious, Daddy you are tasty, granny you are a haddock!"</em></span><br />
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<span style="font-size: large;"><em>“Daddy, my nose has just done a trump”</em></span><br />
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<span style="font-size: large;"><em>“Grannie's hat is on to keep her ear wig in” (she has a hearing aid!)</em></span><br />
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<span style="font-size: large;"><em>“I’m decoratoring beautifully mummy” says he as he put up the baubles on the christmas tree</em></span><br />
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<span style="font-size: large;"><em>"Daddy stop reading with your mouth full."</em></span><br />
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<span style="font-size: large;"><em>“When I’m a big daddy like you I’m going to be strong, tall, and messy”</em></span><br />
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<div></div><span style="font-size: large;"><em>When asked what does daddy do all day, he replied in my defence “Daddy does mess!”</em></span><br />
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But even at his cheekiest, somehow always manages to redeem himself....<br />
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<span style="font-size: large;"><em>“I’ve got the best family in the whole world ever”</em></span><br />
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Bless!magicdartshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11095926017533229807noreply@blogger.com14tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7235540803457479486.post-35632646228082029062010-04-15T07:31:00.000-07:002010-04-15T07:38:20.299-07:00Epilepsy awareness - please support Serene's fantastic blog!One of the key aims of this blog is to highlight the brilliant work being done by others in the blogging community to support the causes that mean the most to them.<br />
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<div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: inherit;">Today I want to bring your attention to the fantastic work being done by Serene Low over in Malaysia, who has worked tirelessly for nearly a decade to promote the awareness of epilepsy around the world.</span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: inherit;"><br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhWn-gVjvUj2_CMu1Q0d5hnuc9DYxJUubelcDklmbwfEL5pv472yDf312sVQMGdpZ7CU9oxCOu3HMpEpZaRkJo07TcSc07PZOZ1aRpNS0JTFYN-Gc5fUX339QYC7SiZofk_kCs_z6Ctd44/s1600/serenes+blog.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="242" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhWn-gVjvUj2_CMu1Q0d5hnuc9DYxJUubelcDklmbwfEL5pv472yDf312sVQMGdpZ7CU9oxCOu3HMpEpZaRkJo07TcSc07PZOZ1aRpNS0JTFYN-Gc5fUX339QYC7SiZofk_kCs_z6Ctd44/s320/serenes+blog.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><br />
<a href="http://www.epilepsylegacy.blogspot.com/">http://www.epilepsylegacy.blogspot.com/</a><br />
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: inherit;">In her words:</span><br />
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="line-height: 19px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: inherit;">"I have been an epilepsy activist for 9 years. It is extremely difficult and challenging for an individual to promote epilepsy awareness single handedly but it is not totally impossible. Through epilepsy awareness work I had come to know of some wonderful and inspiring people whom I look up to and who had opened doors for me to reach out to the public.<br />
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Roughly 50 million people worldwide have epilepsy. Epilepsy is 3 times more common than multiple sclerosis and more than 3 times as common as Parkinson's disease and cerebral palsy. One person in 50 will develop epilepsy at some time in their life. One in 20 will have a single epileptic seizure."</span></span><br />
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="line-height: 19px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: inherit;">Please, please do visit her webpage and show your support- for any blog catalog members out there her user name is shrine32002 and you can find her profile over at </span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="line-height: normal;"><a href="http://www.blogcatalog.com/user/shrine32002"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: inherit;">http://www.blogcatalog.com/user/shrine32002</span></a></span></span><br />
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="line-height: 19px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: inherit;">You may have noticed on my side bar now as well as on Serene's page there is a purple ribbon which is part of a twitter based campaign to promote awareness. Please click on it and follow the instructions to show your support.</span></span><br />
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="line-height: 19px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: inherit;">Also Serene has provided a number of links to various charities and organisations across the world that are providing much needed support and research into the condition. Please do take a look. I will certainly be including the UK version in my next round of donations to be announced in May.</span></span><br />
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="line-height: 19px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: inherit;">And Finally....</span></span><br />
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="line-height: 19px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: inherit;">P</span><b><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: inherit;">lease Please Please</span></b><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: inherit;"> do get in touch with details of charities and causes that mean the most to you. </span></span><br />
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="line-height: 19px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: inherit;">It would be my absolute pleasure and privilege to promote them here, and wherever possible to donate directly from my online earnings fund as it builds over the coming weeks, months and years.</span></span><br />
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="line-height: 19px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: inherit;">I really need your help. </span></span><br />
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="line-height: 19px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: inherit;">Together we really can make a difference!</span></span><br />
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</span>magicdartshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11095926017533229807noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7235540803457479486.post-10520513362337397222010-04-14T06:37:00.000-07:002010-04-14T07:00:40.361-07:00Making a difference - my first donations!<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgmZaPENAMkwCOrOSNgYyCT_1RqjmkpMl68361_F-xo-u2lbh3tWd_NnSzbkujsnrxsnNaPPKqU4COIz9LT8YP894aSny_AnlzNVWe_h3XRIlkLfg8jmp9PuVlNodEcnV_2dSUqMgLHDqc/s1600/GlobeHands.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="398" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgmZaPENAMkwCOrOSNgYyCT_1RqjmkpMl68361_F-xo-u2lbh3tWd_NnSzbkujsnrxsnNaPPKqU4COIz9LT8YP894aSny_AnlzNVWe_h3XRIlkLfg8jmp9PuVlNodEcnV_2dSUqMgLHDqc/s400/GlobeHands.jpg" width="400" wt="true" /></a></div><br />
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<span style="font-size: large;">Once again a warm welcome to all my new and existing followers!.</span> <br />
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<div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;">Since joining up with Blog catalog a week or two back I've been lucky enough to make some fantastic contacts within the online blogging community, spread wide across the world. </div><div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;"><br />
</div><div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;">So I think it's high time that I provided a recap on what I'm trying to achieve here, as well as an update on how things are going so far</div><div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;"><br />
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<span style="font-size: large;">What's it all about?</span><br />
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For the benefit of those newcomers, here's a quick bit of background on this blog. Like most of us out there, I lead a very busy life, juggling precious family time with demanding work commitments. I've always had a major passion for writing, and over the last two years in particular through online review sites and the like, I've dedicated a lot of my spare time to dipping my toes in the murky freelance earning waters.<br />
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After coming through a serious health scare in the last few months, I've been able to make a lot of positive changes to my work / family life balance, have changed long standing poor dietary habits and rediscovered a balanced exercise routine, which has made a huge difference to me in so many ways. <br />
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In simple statistical terms to date I've lost just over 30 pounds since December but the real impact in terms of rediscovering my energy and passion for life is immeasurable.<br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div>As for my writing, I had always had this dream of just packing in the IT day job, and throwing all my efforts into a rewarding freelance career. As soon as I'd made it big, then I could really give something back, support all those charities and causes that have meant so much to me over the years.<br />
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<span style="font-size: large;">Guess what? </span><br />
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In a sudden wave of inspiration it hit me.<br />
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Right now I get to write about whatever means something to me. <br />
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If I go down the all freelance route, being realistic the chances are very high that I would have to prioritise finding ways to scrap and scrape a living , writing about things that really don't interest me, just to get by.<br />
What do I love best about writing online - the feedback, the sense of community, the freedom to write what and when I like - it's certainly not the financial reward!<br />
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So I dusted down my original entirely purposeless blog, and came up with a theme that I could really believe in.<br />
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In March 2010 , Make a difference was born. Sharing positive, inspiring stories, highlighting amazing charities and fundraising initiatives. <br />
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And my own personal commitment.<br />
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<span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-size: small;">Every single penny that I earn online, whether that be from existing review sites, spare time surveys, adsense revenues, cash back shopping etc. - </span><span style="font-size: small;">I will give directly to charities</span>.<em> </em></span><br />
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<span style="font-size: large;">Donations update</span><br />
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So I've gone through a number of my existing online earnings sources which had reached payout threshold levels and as a result these are the donations I've been able to give so far.<br />
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The grand total so far is (drumroll......) <span style="font-size: large;">£81.40!</span><br />
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1) Miles for smiles - <a href="http://miles-of-smiles.org.uk/">http://miles-of-smiles.org.uk/</a> - see alo link on my blog page- £50 donation (earned via existing <a href="http://www.mutualpoints.com/">http://www.mutualpoints.com/</a> and <a href="http://www.quidco.com/">http://www.quidco.com/</a> earnings <br />
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A fellow writer from UK review site <a href="http://www.dooyoo.co.uk/">http://www.dooyoo.co.uk/</a> told me about a brilliant charity that supports children with disabilities called "miles for smiles" which provides much needed care for her little grandson. It's a small regional charity that has really struggled for funding during the recession, so I'm more than happy to give it any extra promotion that I can.<br />
The lady in question has kindly given me her permission to publish an extract from the deeply moving message she wrote to me - I think you'll agree it's much more powerful and personal than anything I could write here myself <br />
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"I just wanted to mention a charity very close to my heart, Kent Kids, Miles of Smiles. They are a Kent based children's charity, who have supported my young grandson, Miles Griffiths, for over 18 months. Miles was born with spastic quadriplegia, he is 8 this year but cannot sit, mobilise, speak or even swallow due to his condition. <br />
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He is fed via a jejunostomy tube into his bowel (as his stomach does not work) and his care needs are so great that my daughter was unable to continue caring for him at home. She has two other children and was becoming ill with the sheer hard work involved after 6 years care giving with little or no help. <br />
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It was heart-breaking for us all as I am sure you can imagine. Kent Kids stepped in and took Miles into 'Footprints' their residential centre, they supported him financially until Social Services decided to fund him...another story altogether!<br />
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I try to do our bit for the charity and support their fundraising ventures, but as you can imagine the current recession has hit the charity's donations very hard. If you would consider highlighting Kent Kids on your blog, I would be very grateful."<br />
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2) Oxfam unwrapped - feed a family campaign - donation £6.40 (monetary equivalent of points) - via my <a href="http://ipoints.co.uk/">http://ipoints.co.uk/</a> earnings <br />
<a href="http://www.oxfam.org.uk/shop/oxfam-unwrapped-foodies/OU4039HU">http://www.oxfam.org.uk/shop/oxfam-unwrapped-foodies/OU4039HU</a><br />
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About the appeal / charity: <br />
Emergency rations are a priority for crisis-hit families and this gift is the edible equivalent of first aid. We’ll be there with the essential eats – grain, beans, oil, salt and sugar - to keep everyone going until normality is restored<br />
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3) <a href="http://www.make-a-wish.org.uk/">http://www.make-a-wish.org.uk/</a> donated £10 via Ipsos opinion polls at <br />
<a href="http://www.iap-interactive.com/">http://www.iap-interactive.com/</a><br />
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About the appeal / charity:<br />
Make-A-Wish grants magical wishes to children and young people fighting life-threatening illnesses. <br />
At any given time, over 20,000 children in the UK are living with life-threatening conditions. In 2010, around 1,000 children will turn to us to have their special wish granted<br />
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4) <a href="http://www.worldvision.org.uk/">http://www.worldvision.org.uk/</a> donated £10 via Valued opinions surveys at <a href="http://www.valuedopinions.co.uk/">http://www.valuedopinions.co.uk/</a><br />
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About the appeal / charity: World Vision works to make a serious and sustainable impact on poverty and its causes, especially as they affect children. We are committed to long-term change, which means connecting people. Whether it’s enabling people in developing communities to support each other, or linking donors to those in need through child sponsorship, or creating networks to campaign for justice, we believe that getting people connected is the best way to make a difference.<br />
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5) <a href="http://www.shelter.org.uk/">http://www.shelter.org.uk/</a> - donated £5 via <a href="http://www.pigsback.com/">http://www.pigsback.com/</a> earnings <br />
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About the charity: <br />
Shelter is a charity that works to alleviate the distress caused by homelessness and bad housing.<br />
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We do this by giving advice, information and advocacy to people in housing need, and by campaigning for lasting political change to end the housing crisis for good.<br />
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<span style="font-size: large;">I WANT TO HEAR FROM YOU</span><br />
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The last thing I want is for anyone to think that this blog is some kind of "hey look at me - aren't I incredibly worthy" exercise. <br />
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I'm sharing with you what I'm donating, because I think it is vitally important that rather than just highlight and talk about these causes , I put on record my own personal commitment along the way. In addition to the purely monetary donations, I'm going to look at any ways I can directly get involved in some of these causes, whether that be through fundraising events or volunteering.<br />
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My real hope is that this blog inspires a few of you out there do something similar. Maybe you are already doing something like this, in which case I applaud you from the bottom of my heart. <br />
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Either way, I really want to hear from you. Your ideas, your thoughts , the charities that mean something personal to you - if I can help in any way however small, it all makes a difference. Please get in touch!<br />
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It's a small world after all!!<br />
<div class="separator" style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjrG8YuaI22IFEtZgfixtOMioam6Eqvt3w_qF_XSIXJtm6PqlhYYSlzMh3NXRYkyng-Q-QOhNCjYgniU_DRDu_GE6qnPFkXwYXa453uaXrTzqb5uKebeYEucec0YDutPxPIhfoUOGEomtM/s1600/hands+round+world.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; cssfloat: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjrG8YuaI22IFEtZgfixtOMioam6Eqvt3w_qF_XSIXJtm6PqlhYYSlzMh3NXRYkyng-Q-QOhNCjYgniU_DRDu_GE6qnPFkXwYXa453uaXrTzqb5uKebeYEucec0YDutPxPIhfoUOGEomtM/s320/hands+round+world.jpg" wt="true" /></a></div>magicdartshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11095926017533229807noreply@blogger.com12tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7235540803457479486.post-10314121414420538022010-04-13T05:42:00.000-07:002010-04-13T05:42:30.160-07:00Do something amazing today!Here in the UK, there's a regular TV campaign running to encourage more people to sign up to Give Blood.<br />
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</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">Image via Wikipedia</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div>It features well known celebrities who have needed emergency blood transfusions either for themselves or for those closest to them - the tag line - "Do something amazing" has a real resonance.<br />
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Before I start putting the case forward, I think it's only fair that I share my own limited experience with you. I've only actually given blood myself on one occasion to date, so I'm certainly not coming at this from the "I'm doing this - why don't you" point of view. <br />
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Quite honestly, I've always been extremely squeamish when it comes to medical matters, and particularly the sight of blood , so as you can imagine it took a great deal of self-coaxing to get me to the place where I was ready to go through with it.<br />
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In reality, once I'd got over my own anxieties it really was very straight forward. At the time I was living in Britain's second city, and I saw posters advertising a drop in centre not far from where I'd been at University.<br />
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They were really fantastic at settling the nerves - first a little pin prick test to confirm everything was ok and to get the blood type. Then just a case of sitting back on a bed, left arm strapped up and connected, two or three minutes as the blood was pumped through (during which I can honestly say I didn't feel a thing - even though I made a point of not looking at what was happening) and then it was all done and dusted.<br />
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Obviously as you are typically up to a pint of blood lighter, it's best to take it easy over the next 24 hours, especially in warm weather, and to stay off the alcohol during that time. There's plenty of tea and biscuits to get that extra bit of sugar in after the event.<br />
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As I've written here before, I was recently diagnosed with high blood pressure, so clearly that puts me in one of the risk groups that aren't suitable for donation. Heavy drinkers, pregnant women , underweight and elderly are also precluded from giving blood.<br />
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Most people can give blood. If you are generally in good heath, age 17 to 65 (if it's your first time) and weigh at least 7st 12Ib you can donate. You can give blood every 16 weeks, that's approximately every four months.<br />
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I'm really hoping that once I've got through my latest check up ok, and the home BP monitor is certainly indicating that, I'll be able to sign up to give blood on a regular basis. Would certainly be nice to post an update to this blog on that front<br />
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When you think about it , this really is such a simple yet amazing thing to be able to give another human being the chance of life. So if you are thinking about it, and like me are based in the UK ,please take a look at the website. <br />
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<a href="http://www.blood.co.uk/">http://www.blood.co.uk/</a>magicdartshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11095926017533229807noreply@blogger.com6tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7235540803457479486.post-20646629805486547902010-04-12T05:57:00.000-07:002010-04-12T08:38:35.644-07:00Becoming masters of our own destinyI have to confess that I am a huge fan of sports in general. I just love the rush of excitement, the waves of emotion, sharing those experiences with hundreds, thousands maybe even millions of other people out there, who just like me are caught in the moment.<br />
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Last night I watched the final few hours of the US masters, one of the four major tournaments of the world golf calendar. Now I realise an awful lot of folk out there don't share my passion for the sport of golf or any kind for that matter, but before you reach for the proverbial remote control of blogs and click elsewhere - please stay with me on this.<br />
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Especially with the very public downfall of a certain Mr Woods in recent times, you'd be forgiven for thinking that the beautifully controlled and ordered bubble that is the immaculately presented Augusta National golf course is the very last place in which you'd find inspirational TV viewing on a Sunday night. The return of "grouchy Tiger hidden passions" was very much a circus side show compared with the real story out there.<br />
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Phil Mickelson, a genuine fans favourite, who plays with a true spirit of adventure and personality, emerged triumphant in the last few holes, recording his 3rd victory in this most prestigious of tournaments.<br />
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But beneath these bare record book facts lies a very human and deeply moving personal story. <br />
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His wife Amy was diagnosed with Breast Cancer aged just 37. In a further cruel twist of fate, only a short while later Phil's mother Mary was also diagnosed with Breast Cancer.<br />
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After a short time away from the game, Phil resumed playing on the demanding world golf tour. For the last 11 months, his wife and three children have been unable to follow him. Even this week, though they had travelled to Augusta, she had been too weak to make it on to the course to watch as she continues her battle against an agressive form of the disease.<br />
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<div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgmaZLlwC7YOIn7yobejwzhl5DfHMWegTiFP0GA3gcqpXDcW4vx7JJ_Q0J594V9U3fEBgR1_HSzxx144lyhkWxNdWM3lD22CNeoNgCs3ridnIDDCT37vzpeY5lakDRJUXqFiDNNnoFJA5U/s1600/AMickelson18.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; cssfloat: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgmaZLlwC7YOIn7yobejwzhl5DfHMWegTiFP0GA3gcqpXDcW4vx7JJ_Q0J594V9U3fEBgR1_HSzxx144lyhkWxNdWM3lD22CNeoNgCs3ridnIDDCT37vzpeY5lakDRJUXqFiDNNnoFJA5U/s200/AMickelson18.jpg" width="180" wt="true" /></a>As he walked up to the 18th green, unbeknown to him, Amy was there waiting with the children. Watching the two of them embrace, as she clutched her hands in front of her face shaking with emotion, seeing Phil wrap his arms round her and hold her so tightly as a little tear rolled down his face, no one watching could fail to be anything other than deeply moved.</div><br />
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So on the surface, golf with all it's finickety rules and quirks may seem to be the last place you'd expect to reach down into the depths of your soul and truly feel what it is to be alive. A tiny little pink ribbon in Phil's hat, carrying such deep meaning.<br />
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For more infomation on the pink ribbon campaign please take a look at <a href="http://www.pinkribbon.com/">http://www.pinkribbon.com/</a><br />
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A few months ago, I read a fascinating article hidden away in the sports pages which really made me sit up and think. <br />
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It told the story of Ken Green, a former US PGA professional who had achieved the lofty heights of representing his country at the 1989 Ryder cup, before losing his way in the 1990s following battles with depression and debt which eventually cost him his marriage. His game went to to pieces, he lost his Tour card in 2000 and made no money at all between 2005 and 2008.<br />
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Finally just as he had turn things around and was picking his career back together on June 8th 2009 came a horrific car accident that literally turned his life upside down. In that crash, he lost his partner, and his brother, and when he came around the doctors gave him the devastating prognosis. As his left ankle had been badly damaged by the accident, whilst they could save his leg, he would definitely never be able to play golf again.<br />
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His response to this was very simple and incredibly brave – “chop it off at the ankle then”. Since then he's been through eight painful surgery sessions, and with the support of his fellow professionals he's all set to make a comeback aged 51 on the Champions tour and become the first ever one legged golf professional.<br />
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His determination is absolute - in an interview he said "If I don't come back , it would feel that losing my three best friends would serve no purpose". Whether he will be allowed to complete an incredible sporting come back remains to be seen, but without question his indomitable spirit is a lesson to all of us<br />
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You can read much more about his amazing personal journey at <a href="http://www.kengreenscomeback.com/">http://www.kengreenscomeback.com/</a><br />
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We only truly know ourselves in the darkest of hours. But, no matter what, the one thing that can never be disputed is that all of us have the power within us to take charge of our own destinies. <br />
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The human spirit can never be defeated.magicdartshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11095926017533229807noreply@blogger.com6tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7235540803457479486.post-63410451257522428002010-04-11T10:59:00.000-07:002010-04-11T11:12:45.032-07:00The simple pleasures are always best :)<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div><br />
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Just back from a fairly bracing day out with the family over at Skegness, a classic "kiss-me-quick" style British sea side resort.<br />
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You know what, despite all the noisy and rip-off funfair and slot machines, it still had all the ingredients of a classic day out at the coast.<br />
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Early season means empty beaches, and despite a chilly old wind, it was so nice to just run and chase around my little lad across wide sprawling stretches of golden sands. Just running up and rolling down sand drifts, it doesn't really get much better than that.<br />
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Even in amongst the tackiest parts of the central pier amusement area, there was a real old-fashioned carousel of horses- and guess what - that was the only ride he wanted to go on over and over again.<br />
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He loved his donkey ride, leading the charge, then rounded the day off dipping toes in the icy wash of the incoming tide and putting his home made flag on a good old fashioned sandcastle.<br />
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Throw in some fish chips and mushy peas, a tray of seafood and an ice-cream treat, let all the fresh air in, lie back and look at the crystal blue sky. Happy days!<br />
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So renewed energy to take us into another week. Just to give you a heads-up on the next couple of blog topics, I plan to move on from "life savouring" to life saving - simple things that can make such a massive difference like giving blood and putting your name on the organ donation register. I'll also recount my own experiences of becoming a "Baywatch wannabee", when I trained to be a lifeguard.<br />
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Later in the week I plan to give a first snapshot of where I'm up to on the donations of online earnings front, certainly hoping to have well over £80 cleared by the end of this first month. Every penny counts!<br />
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Thanks again for all your support, and a warm welcome to all my new followers from this last weekmagicdartshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11095926017533229807noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7235540803457479486.post-2598354481655581992010-04-10T13:32:00.000-07:002010-04-10T13:32:07.754-07:00Walking in a Whitby Wonderland!<span class="Apple-style-span" style="line-height: 18px;"></span><br />
<div style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin: 0cm;"><span style="color: black;">Once again another busy family weekend so I’m afraid not too much time to write today. <o:p></o:p></span></div><div style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin: 0cm;"><br />
</div><div style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin: 0cm;">I <span style="color: black;">was a very proud daddy as our little man was awarded his first swimming badge today for swimming 5 metres. Michael Phelps – watch this space! <o:p></o:p></span></div><div style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin: 0cm;"><br />
</div><div style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin: 0cm;"><span style="color: black;">As the weather looks like staying sunny for a day or two more at least, we've decided to head to the seaside tomorrow as a special treat for him.<o:p></o:p></span></div><div style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin: 0cm;"><br />
</div><div style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin: 0cm;"><span class="apple-style-span"><span style="color: black;">The beach has always been one of my happy places, and I do think it’s important to make the most of every opportunity to go and do the things you love most whenever you get the chance. <o:p></o:p></span></span></div><div style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin: 0cm;"><br />
</div><div style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin: 0cm;"><span class="apple-style-span"><span style="color: black;">Here’s an article I wrote last year about the magical seaside resort of </span></span><st1:city><st1:place><span class="apple-style-span"><span style="color: black;">Whitby</span></span></st1:place></st1:city><span class="apple-style-span"><span style="color: black;"> – enjoy!</span></span><span style="color: black;"><o:p></o:p></span></div><div style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin: 0cm;"><br />
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</div><div style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin: 0cm;"><span class="apple-style-span"><span style="color: black;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: x-large;">All dressed in black for a day at the seaside! </span></span></span><span style="color: black;"><o:p></o:p></span></div><div style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin: 0cm;"><span class="apple-style-span"><span style="color: black;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: x-large;"><br />
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Over the years, I have spent many a glorious family weekend sampling the delights of the traditional fishing </span><st1:place><st1:placetype><span style="color: black;">port</span></st1:placetype><span style="color: black;"> of </span><st1:placename><span style="color: black;">Whitby</span></st1:placename></st1:place><span style="color: black;">, a genuine treasure of the </span><st1:place><span style="color: black;">North Yorkshire</span></st1:place><span style="color: black;"> coastline, tantalisingly within reach of </span><st1:city><st1:place><span style="color: black;">Newcastle</span></st1:place></st1:city><span style="color: black;">, </span><st1:city><st1:place><span style="color: black;">York</span></st1:place></st1:city><span style="color: black;"> and </span><st1:place><span style="color: black;">Scarborough</span></st1:place><span style="color: black;">. It's a town rich in maritime tradition, popular with young and old, steeped in history and reeking of premium freshly caught fish and chips.<br />
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Fittingly in the very place where the famous Dublin born 19th century novelist, Bram Stoker found the inspiration, amongst the haunting cliff-top Abbey ruins, to write his masterpiece of Gothic intrigue Dracula, the local gemstone is Whitby Jet ; dark, opulent and magical in every aspect.<br />
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And believe me, if like us you happen upon Gothic weekend, if you go down to the beach that day you're sure of a big surprise. There's really no better way to keep those unruly little ones in check than the sight of 100's of gothic afficionados roaming through the streets beautifully bedecked in splendidly dark apparel , "better be a good boy /girl now otherwise the vampires are gonna getcha!!"<br />
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In reality, there's a really friendly atmosphere on these special weekends, and if you fancy checking it out for yourself the official 2009 dates for the WGW (Whitby Gothic Weekend) are Friday 24th-26 April and Friday 30th October- 1st November (now that's Halloween handy dandy ain't it)<br />
Harbour Highlights<br />
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The main day tripper car parking is situated adjacent to the historic harbour area (you can also find places further up in the town overlooking the bay, or even by the Abbey itself), it's standard Pay and Display Long Stay stuff.<br />
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Just a short walk from there you'll find the main tourist information centre and home to the story of <st1:city><st1:place><span style="color: black;">Whitby</span></st1:place></st1:city><span style="color: black;">'s most famous son the Captain Cook museum. Also, the main railway station is diagonally opposite here. Just across the way, you'll see Trenchers fish restaurant which I'll come to in a bit...<br />
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But first, let's take a leisurely stroll along the harbour side into town.<br />
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If you are in the mood to head straight to the beach, carry on in a straight line, past seemingly endless rows of amusement arcades on one side and seafood selling stalls on the other, and within 10 minutes or less you should be able to either promenade your way along the old harbour gates, or lets be more realistic if you have kids with you, charge down the slope straight onto those Golden Whitby sands.<br />
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For me though, long before you get to any of that, there's an ideal opportunity to first soak up the side-streets that are bristling with cultural quirkiness and then if you are feeling sufficiently energetic, to take the chance to stroll up the multitude of cobbled steps that lead you to the Abbey. So when you come to the little red bridge, take a right turn, and head into the teashop strewn promised land....<br />
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: x-large;">Trudge, Fudge and Finery</span><br />
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Turn up left onto Church Street and walk along the winding cobbles, and these takes you gradually in the direction of the Abbey, but not before you get the chance to sample the endlessly more-ish delights emanating from the assorted icecream, chocolate and fudge emporiums adorning the route, not to mention the delicious cakes and snacks you will find in a selection of courtyard cafés tucked away down inviting alley ways.<br />
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My personal favourite is Sanders Yard, home of quite possibly the second finest Coffee and Walnut cake I've ever sampled (it's ok mother-in-law, you're still number 1). In this quarter, you will also find plenty of gift shops crammed with traditional crafts, and the Whitby Jet Heritage centre is a great place to get that special souvenir.<br />
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: x-large;">Our quest for Dracula's Grave!!</span><br />
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Drifting back to our Gothic Weekend experience, on that particular occasion we were visiting </span><st1:city><st1:place><span style="color: black;">Whitby</span></st1:place></st1:city><span style="color: black;"> with our friends and their kids who were also our Godchildren. Already highly excitable and giddy from seeing so many folk dressed in spectacular gothic outfits, whilst we sat merrily munching our brunch in the aforementioned Sanders Yard, their eldest girl Sarah (an impressionable 8 years old at the time) had asked the question as to whether we might be able to visit Dracula's gravestone at the Church by the Abbey. Naturally given that old fang face is an entirely fictional creation, this was a tricky proposition indeed....<br />
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However being the "Uncle" with the reputation for having comfortably the most active imagination in our group, I was tasked by her Mum of coming up with a plausible location, so she wouldn't go home entirely disillusioned. "Don't worry Sarah, Uncle Paul knows where it is...."<br />
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And so it was that Sarah and I led the group on the most daring of adventures. Never mind your 39 steps, between us and our mysteriously enticing final destination lay a fearsome collection of 199 ultra steep and cobblicious steps. Needless to say, in her excitement Sarah managed to skip up those stones like a veritable spring lamb dragging my podgy old frame along for the breath consuming ride.<br />
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But as we reached the top and the edges of the churchyard I gathered my wits and hatched my daring plan. "Of course" I said wistfully, at the same time frantically trying to spot a likely candidate "everyone expects that Dracula's headstone will be the most spectacular one here, but very few people know where to find the secret stone.....".<br />
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There it was, a jagged weather worn half height stone, with the faded inscription no longer legible, our combined shadows spookily pointing straight to it. I whispered "And here it is...!" Sarah, uptil now a model of wonderment and calm finally let slip her thoughts at this most dramatic of moments. Still retaining that matter of fact charm, she simply said... "I'm a bit scared".<br />
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Fortunately for me, the rest of our party were quickly on the scene, and back to the arms of mater she went...The funniest thing for me though was when we met up with a couple of other friends later that day, and gawd bless her, when we recounted the tale, gawd bless her my wife's friend (we'll simply call her Julie cos that's her name) said "You really visited Dracula's actual gravestone - wow!" - honestly you can't make it up!!<br />
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: x-large;">Abbey days!</span></span><br />
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Having reached the summit, and taken a moment to look back across the stunning views back across the harbour and the rest of the town, naturally you can take a look inside the historic parish church of St Mary the Virgin, which dates back as far as Norman times. But there's no mistaking the main attraction right in front of you, dominating the cliff-tops as far as the eye can see.<br />
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For any English Heritage members (like me) the great news is its free entry. Otherwise, according to the latest prices published on the official web site, prices for 2009 are £4.90 per adult, £2.40 for kids, £3.90 for concessions, and a family ticket coming in at £12.20.<br />
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The visitor centre and access to the Abbey grounds is pretty much open all year round, except Tuesdays and Wednesdays in the Winter season which runs from 1st October to 31st March and the main Christmas holiday dates.<br />
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Now obviously as it's no cost to me, I'm going to be slightly biased, but I really would recommend you pay a visit.<br />
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There's a fantastic interactive exhibition centre where you can get to "talk" to the major historical figures who played a part in the Abbey's rich history, ranging from St Hilda who founded the original Abbey back in 657, right through to Bram Stoker on how the Churchyard and Abbey inspired him to write his classic novel Dracula (once again Julie, it is a work of fiction...hmm)<br />
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They also provide free audio handsets to accompany you around the ruins and grounds themselves, well worth it if you have the time. And as ever featuring high on my agenda, there is of course a well stocked and flourishing tea room to enjoy!<br />
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: x-large;">A tale of two chippies</span><br />
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Tea rooms-schmee rooms I hear you cry, what about the fish and chips man! Now as far as I understand, the most popular place to go has always been the Magpie Café, situated in it's original black and white 1750s building on the Pier road that leads along the harbour side. The thing is though, on absolutely every single occasion I've visited </span><st1:city><st1:place><span style="color: black;">Whitby</span></st1:place></st1:city><span style="color: black;">, over the years, there have always been queues of people into the streets, so in truth I've never actually been. From the amount of hungry folk prepared to queue up you'd have to conclude it's definitely got something.<br />
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I am however, more than delighted to be able to recommend an excellent alternative, particularly good for larger family groups. As I mentioned earlier in the piece, close to the Tourist Information Centre there's a great place called Trenchers, boasting two floors of spacious and nicely decorated modern interiors, loads of comfortable green leather seating, and very friendly waiting staff. Oh aye, and a fully licenced bar!!<br />
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They have an excellent selection of seafood dishes and fish of all types and sizes, and I've always found it fresh and the portions to be more than generous, and even at somewhere between £6-10 for a main course, you certainly get what you pay for here in my view. Plus it's one of those places where they put the deserts on display - mouthwatering stuff indeed!<br />
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: x-large;">Once more unto the beach my friend</span> <br />
There's one final Whitby odyssey I'd like to share with you and it only seems right and proper to round off my review of one of the North's premium seaside resorts with a bit about the Whitby sands beach itself. But rather than take the direct route to the beach from the harbour, there's a very interesting alternative to explore assuming you aren't feeling to full of deep fried joy at this point.<br />
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Just shy of the beach, turn to your left and head up a set of zig zagging stone stairs. At the very top, there's the iconic whalebone arch, made up of two giant 15 foot long whalebones - a modern day replacement for the original from 1853 but nonetheless one heck of a good photo opportunity not to be missed.<br />
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But this in itself is not the odyssey I am referring to. Once again, going back to that visit with friends and godchildren, I remember well the moment I discovered - the Lift in the Cliff! So carry on walking along the promenade, up the hill, past various seafront hotels on your left and glorious views of the beach landscape to your right, and there it is. The West Cliff Lift, a piece of genius indeed, able to propel you safely down 120ft to the beach below.<br />
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Great I thought, but there was just one problem. Our friend Vicky was more than a little nervous about lifts, and so she decided she would rather brave the twisty, turny hillside path that eventually leads down to the sands. Naturally being a gallant sort of chap I offered to accompany her.<br />
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However one of her little girls was still in a pushchair, and didn't want to be separated from her mummy. So I got the ultimate chance to prove my godparenting credentials, as I grimly gripped on as hard as I could to the handles, till my knuckles were white, ever so carefully making my way down the steep pathways. A bracing experience indeed!!<br />
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<span class="apple-style-span"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: x-large;">Final Thoughts</span></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: x-large;"><br />
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Still we made it in one piece, and however you make the journey, it's nice to know that it's more than rewarding when you get there. Strolling along the top of the beach which is lined with spectacular sandstone rock formations, there always seems a real warmth about the place.<br />
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In my experience, it's generally kept very clean, and even at peak times there's usually plenty of space across the rolling plains of golden sands to create a bucket and spade masterpiece. Indeed, even the Donkeys are treated to regular annual MOT healthchecks in July, according to the Donkey Sanctuarys official website.<br />
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All in all, I have to admit, when it comes to the Great Northern seaside resorts, I'm still very much a </span><st1:place><span style="color: black;">Scarborough</span></st1:place><span style="color: black;"> loyalist, but with all its quirkiness and cultural fascination, I must concede that </span><st1:city><st1:place><span style="color: black;">Whitby</span></st1:place></st1:city><span style="color: black;"> does give it a good run for its money.<br />
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After all, where else on earth, would you ever get to see good folk in long black leather trench coats, taking a paddle!<o:p></o:p></span></div>magicdartshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11095926017533229807noreply@blogger.com0